Household Food Security in the United States in 2010

37 Pages Posted: 9 Aug 2012

See all articles by Alisha Coleman-Jensen

Alisha Coleman-Jensen

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Economic Research Service (ERS)

Mark Nord

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Economic Research Service (ERS)

Margaret Andrews

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Economic Research Service (ERS)

Steven Carlson

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Date Written: September 1, 2011

Abstract

An estimated 85.5 percent of American households were food secure throughout the entire year in 2010, meaning that they had access at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members. The remaining households (14.5 percent) were food insecure at least some time during the year, including 5.4 percent with very low food security — meaning that the food intake of one or more household members was reduced and their eating patterns were disrupted at times during the year because the household lacked money and other resources for food. The prevalence rate of very low food security declined from 5.7 percent in 2009, while the change in food insecurity overall (from 14.7 percent in 2009) was not statistically significant. The typical food-secure household spent 27 percent more on food than the typical food-insecure household of the same size and household composition. Fifty-nine percent of all food-insecure households participated in one or more of the three largest Federal food and nutrition assistance programs during the month prior to the 2010 survey.

Keywords: Food security, food insecurity, food spending, food pantry, soup kitchen, emergency kitchen, material well-being, SNAP, Food Stamp Program, National School Lunch Program, WIC

Suggested Citation

Coleman-Jensen, Alisha and Nord, Mark and Andrews, Margaret and Carlson, Steven, Household Food Security in the United States in 2010 (September 1, 2011). USDA-ERS Economic Research Report No. 125, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2116606 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2116606

Alisha Coleman-Jensen (Contact Author)

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Economic Research Service (ERS) ( email )

355 E Street, SW
Washington, DC 20024-3221
United States
(202) 694-5456 (Phone)

Mark Nord

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Economic Research Service (ERS) ( email )

355 E Street, SW
Washington, DC 20024-3221
United States
202-694-5433 (Phone)

Margaret Andrews

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - Economic Research Service (ERS) ( email )

355 E Street, SW
Washington, DC 20024-3221
United States
202-694-5441 (Phone)

Steven Carlson

affiliation not provided to SSRN

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