In 1995 the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) began issuing yearly reports on the level of food security in the United States. Today, the USDA announced the level of food insecurity in America has reached a record since the first report issued in1995.“The Household Food Security in the U.S.” annual report finds that “in 2008, 17 million households, or 14.6 percent, were food insecure and families had difficulty putting enough food on the table at times during the year.” According to USDA, this is an 11 percent increase from the 2007 level (13 million). To read the report issued by the USDA’s Economic Research Service click here.
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack states in the USDA news release, "The Obama Administration has put in place unprecedented measures to promote job creation and combat hunger in our Nation, a problem that the American sense of fairness should not tolerate and American ingenuity can overcome . . . The Department of Agriculture's nutrition assistance programs provide a safety net that improves food access to those with critical needs, but addressing the root of hunger requires a broader strategy. By improving access to federal nutrition programs and working with our partners at all levels of government and society, we can make progress in our effort to reduce and eventually eliminate childhood hunger."
To read the USDA news release click here.
Posted: 11/16/09
