New USDA Report: Hunger and Food Insecurity at Highest Recorded Levels

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A report released today from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) found that over 1 in 7 American households is "food insecure" (almost 15% of the total US population or about 49 million people in 17 million households).  Food insecurity is defined as inadequate or unsure access to enough food for active, healthy living.  This level is the highest since the USDA began tracking food insecurity in 1995 and represents an increase of 4 million households from last year.

In addition, the report found that almost 7 million households experienced "very low food security" - the most severe form of food insecurity (what used to be called "hunger".)  Both of these figures demonstrate that food insecurity and hunger worsened from 2007 to 2008 and highlight the harmful nutritional consequences of the recession.  In fact, in an Associated Press article, Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, and the report's author, Mark Nord, noted that the number reported next year would likely be higher since the recession continued through much of 2009.  The report draws from data collected in December 2008 and therefore reflects the consequences of the economic downturn from last year but not the continued job losses and economic decline of 2009.  For more on this report, click here.

-California Food Policy Advocates