Feeding Indiana’s Hungry Statement on 2022 Food Insecurity Data Released 10-25-23
Attributed to Emily Weikert Bryant, Executive Director
Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Economic Research Service released the Household Food Security in the United States in 2022 report, which examined American households’ ability to access sufficient food last year.
“This report showed us what our member food banks already know: food insecurity rose in Indiana over the three year average from 2020 to 2022, just as it rose nationally in 2022, as boosts in federal nutrition program benefits ended. Those events coincided with food bank lines growing, still setting new record numbers of Hoosier families served. One in nine Hoosier households struggled to put enough food on their tables. Those who were considered to have ‘very low food security’ in Indiana–those who skipped meals or ate less–were noticeably above the national average at 5.5%. Now more than ever is the time for Congress to pass a strong Farm Bill, which includes several anti-hunger programs that help Hoosiers access the nutrition they need to be healthy and active. No Hoosier deserves to be hungry.”
USDA food security definitions:
Food insecure—At times during the year, these households were uncertain of having or unable to acquire enough food to meet the needs of all their members because they had insufficient money or other resources for food. Food-insecure households include those with low food security and very low food security.
Very low food security—In these food-insecure households, normal eating patterns of one or more household members were disrupted and food intake was reduced at times during the year because they had insufficient money or other resources for food.
