Millions of U.S. Children Face Food Insecurity

A recent U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report found that 10% of U.S. households with children were “food insecure” at times during 2011. In other words, children in these households did not always receive adequate, nutritious food. The number of food insecure households (3.9 million) is virtually unchanged since last year. According to the Washington Post, this translates to 16.6 million U.S. children.

Approximately 1% of U.S. households with children experienced very low food security in 2011 (i.e. food insecurity in seven months of the year, for at least a few days each month). The number of households that experienced very low food security in 2011 is essentially the same as 2010.

The report also found that 57% of food insecure households had participated in one or more of the three largest federal food and nutrition assistance programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the National School Lunch Program, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

Click here for the full USDA report.