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overview
 Eighty-nine
percent of American households were food secure throughout the entire
year 2002, meaning that they had access, at all times, to enough food
for an active, healthy life for all household members. The remaining households
were food insecure at least some time during that year. The prevalence
of food insecurity rose from 10.7 percent in 2001 to 11.1 percent in 2002,
and the prevalence of food insecurity with hunger rose from 3.3 percent
to 3.5 percent.
ERS plays a leading role in Federal research on food security and hunger
in U.S. households and communities. This research facilitates informed
public debate regarding food security, its impact on the well-being of
children, adults, families, and communities, and its relationship to public
policies, public assistance programs, and the economy. For a comprehensive list of articles, reports, and survey tools see the readings page.
ERS also provides data access and technical
support to social science scholars to facilitate their research on
food security and food security measurement in U.S. households and communities.
contents
features
Household Food Security in the United
States, 2002—Eighty-nine percent of American households were
food secure throughout the entire year 2002. The prevalence of food insecurity
rose from 10.7 percent of households in 2001 to 11.1 percent in 2002,
and the prevalence of food insecurity with hunger rose from 3.3 percent
of households to 3.5 percent during the same period. This report, based
on data from the December 2002 food security survey provides the most
recent statistics on the food security of U.S. households as well as on
how much they spent for food and the extent to which food-insecure households
participated in Federal and community food assistance programs.
 Putting
Food on the Table: Household Food Security in the United States—Household
food security—access at all times to enough food for active, healthy
living—is taken for granted by most Americans. The struggle to avoid
overeating is a more common American experience than the struggle to put
enough food on the table. However, some American households do have difficulty
at times getting enough food for all members. This article in the February
issue of Amber Waves describes the prevalence
of food security, food insecurity, and hunger in U.S. households in 2001,
and trends in these statistics since 1995.
 Food
Security Rates Are High for Elderly Households—This FoodReview
article finds that households with elderly members are generally more
food secure than other U.S. households. Ninety-four percent of households
with an elderly person present were food secure in 2000, compared with
88 percent of households without elderly. Rates of food insecurity and
hunger among households consisting entirely of elderly persons remain
almost unchanged from 1995. Stable incomes provided by Social Security,
pensions, and personal savings and assets, along with national and community
food assistance programs, help ensure a high prevalence of food security
among the Nation's elderly.
recommended readings
Household Food Security in the United States,
2002—The latest in a series of reports provides the most recent
statistics on the food security of U.S. households, how much they spent
on food, and the extent to which food-insecure households participated in
Federal and community food assistance programs.
Food Assistance Research
Brief—Food Insecurity in Households With Children—This
brief examines the extent to which the diets and eating patterns of American
children are disrupted because their families cannot always afford enough
food.
Guide to Measuring
Household Food Security, Revised 2000—Provides detailed guidance
for researchers on how to use the US Household Food Security Survey Module
to measure food security, food insecurity, and hunger. Statistics from
surveys using these methods will be directly comparable to published national
statistics. Published by USDA's Food and Nutrition Service.
See all recommended readings...
recommended data products
Current Population Survey Food Security
Supplement—Now available from the Census Bureau on CD-ROM and on-line
via the FERRET system. The CPS Food Security Supplement is nationally representative
survey of about 50,000 U.S. households conducted by the Census Bureau for
ERS annually since 1995. The data include information on households' food
security, food expenditures, use of public and private food assistance programs,
and other information on how households cope with limited food budgets.
For data access, documentation, and user notes for household food security
data, including CPS Food Security Supplements, ECLS-K, PSID, and SPD,
see the food security data page.
FANRP Project Database—Provides
details on FANRP research projects, both past and ongoing, including the
project's objective, funding level, researchers, and expected completion
date. See projects under food
security.
recent research developments
Community Food Security Assessment
Toolkit—This report provides a toolkit of standardized measurement
tools for assessing various aspects of community food security. The toolkit
is intended as a resource for community-based nonprofit organizations
and business groups, local government officials, private citizens, and
community planners.
related links
U.S. Action Plan on Food Security—Links to questions
and answers on food security and the U.S.
Action Plan on Food Security (PDF).
USDA Hunger and Food Security page—Information on USDA's Community Food Projects Competitive Grants fund, with links and information about various community food security resources.
See all related links…
for more information, contact:
Mark Nord
web administration: webadmin@ers.usda.gov
page updated: August 5, 2004
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