Despite America not appearing to have the same hunger problems as other countries in America, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.
Hunger is a problem for millions of Americans. “food insecure,”Based on Map the Meal Gap 2017 data, Feeding America, an international hunger relief organization, has found that the average person’s food needs have increased.
This report describes food insecurity and the cost of food in America.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), defines food insecurity as the lack of adequate food to sustain a healthy, active life for all household members.
The USDA states that food insecurity has decreased in America from 50 million Americans in 2009, to 42 million Americans in 2015. Map the Meal Gap still shows that people who are food insecure need to spend an average of $530 per person to be able enough food. This is a 13 percent increase from 2008.
“This is grim news,”Diana Aviv is the CEO of Feeding America in a statement. “It is disheartening to realize that millions of hardworking, low-income Americans are finding it increasingly difficult to feed themselves and their families at the same time that our economy is showing many signs of improvement, including a substantial decline in the number of people who are unemployed.”
The report’s online version features an interactive map. Key data points include estimates of how many people are food insecure at the local level, percentage of those individuals who may be eligible for federal nutrition programs such as SNAP (formerly known as food stamps), as well as information on the average cost of a meal within these areas.
This is what the report shows: Even in states such as North Dakota where child food insecurity rates are low, 1 in 11 children lives in food-insecure homes. Food insecurity is more prevalent in rural areas than in urban areas.
“Feeding America is particularly concerned about children who struggle with hunger because of the devastating and sometimes life-long consequences caused by lack of adequate nutrition,”Ms. Aviv said. “Children are our most vulnerable citizens.”
This report draws on data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Census Bureau. It also uses data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The report also includes food price data and analysis from Nielsen, an international provider of information and insights.
Conagra Brands Foundation, Nielsen and The Howard G. Buffett Foundation supported the study.
Visit feedingamerica.orgFor more information on hunger and local food banks, as well as opportunities to help, please visit www.hunger.org.
