Food Insecurity by state
One in five Louisianans and Mississippians said their household went hungry in September.
Food insecurity, Sep 14-26, 2022
Percent of adults who report their household sometimes or often went hungry in last 7 days
In September 2022, 11.5% of Americans reported that their household did not have enough food. In the South, 12% of households sometimes or often went hungry. Food insecurity was most severe in Louisiana (20%), Mississippi (19%), Arizona (16%), and Arkansas (15%).
A multitude of coinciding factors make it difficult for Americans to have accessible and affordable food options. Rising inflation rates have impacted the cost of groceries, increasing at an annual rate of 13% as of September 2022.1 Several Southern states including AR, FL, GA, KY, MS, and TN rejected and stopped distributing emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) allotments prior to its end in September 2022.2 In VA, however, where food insecurity is lowest in the South, emergency SNAP benefits were recently extended through the month of October.3 Food banks are experiencing increased demand due to inflation and the elimination of these SNAP benefits and are struggling to keep up with the demand as they operate on tight budgets and receive fewer donations.4,5,6,7,8
The Biden Administration has recently taken steps towards reducing food insecurity, including: a nearly $2 billion investment from the United States Department of Agriculture to food banks and schools purchasing American-grown foods; hosting the first White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in over 50 years; and permanently increasing food stamp benefits by 25% beginning October 2022.9,10,11
“Consumer Price Index Summary”. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm
“More States Are Forgoing Extra Federal Food Aid”. Hernández. Pew Research Center. July, 2022. https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2022/07/19/more-states-are-forgoing-extra-federal-food-aid
“Emergency SNAP benefits extended through October in Virginia”. Cordes. ABC News. September, 2022. https://www.wric.com/news/virginia-news/emergency-snap-benefits-extended-through-october-in-virginia/
“Inflation drives more Arkansans to seek help at pantries”. Price. Arkansas Catholic. September, 2022. https://www.arkansas-catholic.org/news/article/7579/Inflation-drives-more-Arkansans-to-seek-help-at-pantries
“Food insecurities among children a growing concern across Middle Tennessee”. Kelly. WKRN. October, 2022. https://www.wkrn.com/special-reports/food-insecurity-among-children-growing-concern-across-middle-tennessee/
“‘It’s humiliating’: US voters struggle with hunger ahead of midterms”. Krupnick. The Guardian. October, 2022. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/oct/12/hunger-food-insecurity-midterms-humiliating-us-voters
“‘An inverse tsunami’: How inflation and drought are making it harder to feed West Texans in need”. Lozano. The Texas Tribune. October, 2022. https://www.texastribune.org/2022/10/13/texas-food-banks-inflation-drought/
“Researchers use machine learning to assist state food pantries with inventory”. McAdory. Auburn University. October, 2022. https://ocm.auburn.edu/newsroom/news_articles/2022/10/070927-researchers-machine-assists-food-pantries.php
“USDA Invests Nearly $2 Billion, Leverages American Agriculture to Feed Kids & Families”. USDA. September, 2022. https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2022/09/14/usda-invests-nearly-2-billion-leverages-american-agriculture-feed#:~:text=WASHINGTON%2C%20September%2014%2C%202022%20%E2%80%93,for%20purchasing%20American%2Dgrown%20foods.
“FACT SHEET: The Biden-Harris Administration Announces More Than $8 Billion in New Commitments as Part of Call to Action for White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health”. The White House. September, 2022. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/09/28/fact-sheet-the-biden-harris-administration-announces-more-than-8-billion-in-new-commitments-as-part-of-call-to-action-for-white-house-conference-on-hunger-nutrition-and-health/
“Biden Administration to Increase Food Aid”. Dewey. Pew Research Center. August, 2021. https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2021/08/16/some-covid-era-anti-hunger-strategies-may-become-permanent
