Child food insecurity affects every county in the United States, with rates reaching almost 50% in some areas, according to Feeding America’s annual Map the Meal Gap study. In Indiana, Map the Meal Gap finds that food insecurity rose in 2023 from 2022 numbers in every category: overall population, children, and seniors.
Map the Meal Gap, now in its 15th year, is the only study that provides local-level estimates of food insecurity and food costs for every county and congressional district. The study builds upon USDA’s most recent report of national and state data, which showed 47 million people, including 14 million children, experienced food insecurity in 2023, the highest rate in more than a decade. Map the Meal Gap emphasizes the need for the public to join the movement to end hunger.
“Hunger remains an urgent crisis in Indiana,” said Emily Weikert Bryant, Executive Director of Feeding Indiana’s Hungry. “When we listen to people facing hunger and use the study’s findings, we can unite in our efforts to create a future where everyone, including children, has access to the nutritious food they need to thrive. Further, now is not the time, when our food banks report that this high level of need persists and families’ expenses continue to rise, to make cuts to vital food assistance programs at the state or federal levels.”
Key findings of Map the Meal Gap include:
- Food insecurity rose in Indiana from 13.9% in 2022 to 15.1% in 2023.
- Child food insecurity in Indiana rose from 18.2% in 2022 to 18.5% in 2023, an increase in more than 7,000 Hoosier children.
- Meanwhile, the food insecurity rate in Indiana among seniors age 60+ is 8.5% (up from 8.0% in 2022) and the food insecurity rate among older adults age 50-59 is 19.6% (up from 14.6% in 2022).
- In Indiana, available data by race/ethnicity shows that 13% of white individuals, 28% of Black individuals, and 24% of Latino individuals experienced food insecurity in 2023.
- In Indiana, food insecurity among all individuals ranges from a low of 10.1% in Hamilton County, which is more than 36,000 people, to a high of 19.2% % in Crawford County.
- Among children, food insecurity in Indiana ranges from a low of 8.6% in Hamilton County, which is nearly 8,000 children, to a high of 24.8% in Grant County.
- Nationwide, nearly 9 out of 10 high food insecurity counties are rural, indicating regional disparities. In Indiana, 7 of the 10 counties with the highest levels of food insecurity are rural.
- Food insecurity impacts communities in every county, parish, and congressional district in the U.S.
- Food insecurity is experienced by people from all backgrounds and demographics, but disparities exist.
- Estimated food insecurity levels vary across the country, influenced by income-related factors, like unemployment, poverty, high cost of living; community- and health-related factors; and systemic barriers to opportunity that have created disparities in food insecurity.
Income and Program Eligibility:
- Nationally, more than 2 out of 5 people facing hunger may not qualify for SNAP benefits due to income limits.Here in Indiana, more than 56% of people facing hunger may not qualify for SNAP and 28% of children facing hunger may not qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
Food Spending and Prices:
- The national food budget shortfall, which reflects the extra money that people who are food insecure report needing to cover their food needs, is $32 billion. This translates to $22.37 a week per person, on average. Hoosiers feel this firsthand, with an estimated food budget shortfall of more than $626 million, or $19.97 a person per week.
- Individuals who were food secure in 2023 reported spending an average of $3.58 per meal. Meal costs vary significantly by county throughout the nation, ranging from $2.60 to $6.09, showcasing the diverse economic challenges faced by communities. In Indiana, the average cost per meal is $3.20.
The Map the Meal Gap study is supported by Conagra Brands Foundation, Enterprise Mobility Foundation, and NielsenIQ/NIQ. Additional key takeaways from the report can be found on the Map the Meal Gap website along with an interactive map that details food insecurity by geography, income, race and ethnicity.
Methodology:
Map the Meal Gap uses publicly available data from USDA Economic Research Service, U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics to estimate local food insecurity at the county, congressional district and state levels. The study also estimates local meal costs and food budget shortfalls using food price data from NIQ, based on USDA’s Thrifty Food Plan, and grocery sales tax data for every county and state in the country.
To learn how food insecurity impacts your community, visit FeedingAmerica.org/MaptheMealGap. For more information about Feeding Indiana’s Hungry and how to help end hunger in Indiana, visit www.feedingindianashungry.org .
