On Sept. 20, the USDA announced it would terminate future releases of the Household Food Security Reports — a key source for food insecurity data for more than 30 years.
USDA called the report “redundant” and “politicized,” adding that “trends have remained virtually unchanged.”
According to the USDA’s latest report, 13.5% of U.S. households were food insecure, impacting 47.5 million Americans. This was “statistically significantly higher” than the 12.8 percent in 2022, and a massive increase over 10.2% rate in 2021.
Foodlink released the following statement in response to the USDA’s decision:
The USDA’s decision to discontinue the Annual Household Food Security Report raises serious concerns about transparency and accountability in addressing food insecurity, and shields Americans from the reality of a worsening crisis. These reports have long served as a vital tool for food banks and anti-hunger organizations to identify trends, allocate resources, and advocate for communities disproportionately affected by hunger. But erasing data does not erase hunger. Changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the years ahead will eliminate or reduce food assistance for millions of Americans. Foodlink remains steadfast in our commitment to serving hundreds of thousands of individuals in our region who face uncertainty about their next meal. We are actively working with our partners at Feeding America to identify reliable data sources that ensure everyone impacted by food insecurity remains seen, heard, and supported.
