Food Security in the United States

Overview Key Statistics and Graphics Frequency of Food Insecurity Measuring Household Food Security History of the Food Security Measurement Project Definitions of Hunger and Food Security Household Survey Tools Community Food Security Recommended Readings Recommended Data Related Links

Household Food Security in the United States, 2008

Overview

• ERS plays a leading role in Federal research on food security—access by all people at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life—in U.S. households and communities.

• In 2008, 85 percent of U.S. households were food secure throughout the entire year, and 14.6 percent of households were food insecure at least some time during that year, up from 11.1 percent in 2007. This is the highest recorded prevalence rate of food insecurity since 1995 when the first national food security survey was conducted.

• ERS provides data access and technical support to social science scholars to facilitate their research on food security and food security measurement in U.S. households and communities.

• ERS research facilitates informed public debate regarding food security, its impact on the well-being of children, adults, families, and communities, and its relationship to public policies, public assistance programs, and the economy.

Highlights

• Does SNAP Decrease Food Insecurity? Untangling the Self-Selection Effect



• Food Spending Declined and Food Insecurity Increased for Middle-Income and Low-Income Households from 2000 to 2007



• Food Insecurity in Households with Children: Prevalence, Severity, and Household Characteristics

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