14.5% of American households were food insecure for at least some time in 2010, according to an annual study released by the United States Department of Agriculture.
This is essentially unchanged from 2008 and 2009, but is higher than 2007 when 11.1% of American households were food insecure. For most of the decade starting in 2000, food insecurity has hovered around 11%, according to annual reports released by the USDA.
Households with very low food security – meaning that somebody actually went hungry, was down from 5.7% in 2009 to 5.4% in 2010. In 2007, that percentage was even less at 4.1%.
In addition, USDA researchers point out that the report understates the problem of hunger because it does not include the homeless.
“This report today underscores what we know: that household food insecurity remains a serious problem in the United States,” said USDA Under Secretary Kevin Concannon.
Voice of America (VOA) points out that the private sector, such as supermarkets and food manufacturers, have stepped up and donated 270 kilograms of produce in 2010 to help meet some of that need.
Federal assistance programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP – formerly known as ‘food stamps’) have also met some of that need, with SNAP enrolling 7 million more households in its program since 2007.
With the federal budget at $15 trillion, however, there is fear that some of these assistance programs will be cut. The House of Representatives have already passed a budget cutting 10% from a $6 billion nutrition program for pregnant women and young children, according to the VOA.
The Senate has yet to pass its version of the budget.
