The percentage of U.S. households with very low food security declined from 2009 to 2010, while the percentage food insecure remained essentially unchanged
In 2010, 14.5 percent of U.S. households were food insecure. The percentage of U.S. households that were food insecure had increased sharply in 2008 and remained at that high level in 2009 and 2010—the highest recorded percentage since national monitoring of food security began in 1995.
The more severe range of food insecurity, described as very low food security, had also increased sharply from 2007 to 2008 and remained there in 2009. However, very low food security declined somewhat from 5.7 percent in 2009 to 5.4 percent in 2010.
Food-secure households are those with consistent access throughout the year to adequate food for active healthy living for all household members. Food-insecure households lack that level of access at some time during the year.
What's Available:
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Report contents:
• Links to report summary, entire report, and statistical supplement
• Key statistics and graphics
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Media resources:
• Fact sheet of Household Food Security report
• Questions asked in the Household Food Security survey
• Getting it right: avoiding common misinterpretations of the data
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Podcast:
Listen to a discussion of the report's findings with Dr. Alisha Coleman-Jensen.
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• "Food Security of SNAP Recipients Improved Following the 2009 Stimulus Package," Amber Waves, June 2011
• "More Americans Relied on Food Assistance During Recession," Amber Waves, December 2010
• "Food Spending During Recessionary Times," Amber Waves, September 2011
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Blog post by Kevin Concannon, USDA Under Secretary (Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services)
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News conference with Under Secretary Kevin Concannon and Dr. Alisha Coleman-Jensen (audio: 37 minutes, 11 seconds)
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• USDA Press release announces highlights of Household Food Security report and USDA nutrition assistance programs
• USDA's Food and Nutrition Service oversees the administration of 15 nutrition assistance programs
• USDA's Ending Childhood Hunger Initiative provides guidance on addressing hunger in communities
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For more information, see:
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