Food Insecurity in the U.S.
Who is food insecure in the U.S., who monitors the issue, and who supports those in need of more food
In the epic novel “Les Miserables” by Victor Hugo, protagonist Jean Valjean’s story of redemption begins with the consequences of stealing bread for his widowed sister and her seven children. The risk of hunger motivates the crime, and audiences everywhere sympathize. Though the story is set in 19th-century France, the sentiment is universally understood. Who is hungry among us?
One of Mormon Women for Ethical Government’s principles states: “Economic and social inequity damages the moral fabric of societies and weakens democratic governments. People should act freely to implement measures that promote equality of opportunity for their fellow human beings.” The level of government involvement to provide opportunities for food varies across the political spectrum, and solutions to food insecurity reach beyond government, too. No matter a person’s political leanings, most can agree that when citizens have enough food, they function at higher levels.
Chances are that you work or attend church or events with someone who has limited access to food. In 2024, 13.7% of American households, or about one in every seven people, experienced food insecurity. Hunger and food insecurity are not the same. Hunger is a physiological state, and food insecurity is the “economic and social condition of limited or uncertain access to adequate food.”
Food insecurity is separated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) into two levels: 1. Low food security is characterized by “reports of reduced quality, variety, or desirability of diet.” 2. Very low food security is defined as “reports of multiple indications of disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake.” Some indicators of food insecurity from USDA surveys include weight loss, a person who did not eat at all one day, and food that was purchased but did not last the entire month.
This article details who is food insecure in the U.S., who monitors the issue, and who supports those in need of more food.
Who is food insecure in the U.S.?
Some people are more vulnerable to food insecurity than others. The nonprofit network Feeding America cites disability, job loss, high cost of living, low income potential, and even where you live as factors that contribute to a person’s likelihood of experiencing food insecurity. This list highlights the groups most at risk:
Women: Women experience higher rates of food insecurity than men. In a study published in 2025, 5,200 participants in Houston, Texas, were surveyed, and nearly half of all female respondents had experienced food challenges. Nationally, this holds true, too, with 36.8% of households led by single women experiencing food insecurity, compared to 23.8% for their male counterparts.
Students: In 2020, a U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that 23% of college students experienced food insecurity. This is almost twice the national average. Students’ financial status and the rising cost of tuition, among other factors, pose challenges for young people attempting to complete their degrees.
Residents of “food deserts” or “low-access areas”: A food desert or low-access area is defined as an urban area where low-income residents live more than one mile from a grocery store or a rural area where residents live more than 10 miles away. Approximately 6% of people in the U.S. live in these areas and are at greater risk for food insecurity, and these areas exist in every state.
Military families: In a comparison between military families and a similar civilian demographic in 2018 and 2020, authors of one study found that 25.3% of military families experienced food insecurity compared to 10.1% among a demographically equivalent civilian adult population. Some of the challenges to this demographic include low starting pay, frequent moves, and challenges to spouses working steadily.
Families with children: In 2024, the USDA reported that 18.4% of U.S. households with children experienced food insecurity, compared to 13.7% of all U.S. households. Households with young children are even more at risk, with one in seven families with babies and toddlers under age 3 experiencing food insecurity in 2023. This is particularly concerning as proper nutrition is required for growth and development.
Communities of color: Historically, and at least since the federal government began tracking food insecurity in 2000, non-white U.S. citizens have been significantly more likely to experience food insecurity. In 2024, 24.4% of Black and 20.2% of non-white Hispanic households lacked food access compared to 10.1% of white households.
Who monitors food insecurity?
So, how do we know these statistics, and why is it important to track food security? After debates about sizable food stamp cuts in the 1980s and subsequent legislation addressing how to actually measure it, Congress responded with the National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act of 1990. This set up the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Department of Health and Human Services to work together to research and monitor food insecurity. As a result, the USDA surveyed for and published a household food security report annually beginning in 2000.
Then, in September 2025, the USDA announced the cancellation of this report, citing cost and fearmongering as reasons to stop the measuring of food insecurity. Critics of this action warned that cancelling the report dismisses issues related to hunger in the vulnerable populations listed above, disadvantages food banks that rely on the information to plan supports, and hides harmful policies, such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) cuts.
Who supports food security?
From government to nonprofit organizations to private donors, resources exist for people experiencing food insecurity in the U.S. This list includes many of the major supporters of food security in the U.S., though it is not meant to be exhaustive.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): Since 1939, the federal government has supplemented food for families and individuals who have food access challenges. The USDA-run SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, is a program available to U.S. citizens who meet a variety of eligibility requirements. These funds are primarily administered through state and county agencies, though several states have recently contracted this service to private companies.
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): Another USDA program, this resource focuses on the prenatal period and the first five years of a child’s life, providing nutrition education, supplements for formula, produce, protein sources, and more. This program has eligibility requirements, but with slightly higher income limits than SNAP.
Churches: Many churches support food security on large and small scales. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints manages one of the most robust supplemental systems of food production and distribution in the world, including nine production canneries and 100 storehouses (or grocery stores), in addition to farmland and ranches.
Food banks: Food banks can be as informal as office closets stocked with shelf-stable items for struggling employees to large nonprofit organizations, such as Feeding America, which has more than 125 individual food banks spanning the U.S. In 2023, 24.4 million people received food assistance from community organizations. Food banks rely on food and monetary donations from grants, organizations, and private donors.
Food insecurity remains a challenge for millions of Americans, despite available public and community-based resources. Barriers such as program eligibility, transportation, and limited awareness can prevent people from accessing the support they need. With food costs around 29% higher than before the pandemic, many households are finding it increasingly difficult to meet their nutritional needs. Addressing food insecurity requires our continued attention to the programs, policies, and community partnerships that are essential to increasing families' access to food.
This article was written by Sherilyn Stevenson, lead researcher and writer for Mormon Women for Ethical Government, under the direction of Jill Fairholm, family health and well-being program specialist for Mormon Women for Ethical Government.
