Economic Research Report No. (ERR-256) 44 pp

September 2018

Household Food Security in the United States in 2017

An estimated 11.8 percent of American households were food insecure at least some time during the year in 2017, meaning they lacked access to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members. That is down from 12.3 percent in 2016. The prevalence of very low food security also declined, to 4.5 percent from 4.9 percent in 2016.

See additional tables: Statistical Supplement to Household Food Security in the United States in 2017 (AP-079).

See related Webinar: Household Food Security in the United States in 2017.

Keywords: Food security, food insecurity, food spending, food pantry, soup kitchen, emergency kitchen, material well-being, material hardship, hunger, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, SNAP, Food Stamp Program, National School Lunch Program, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, WIC

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