The USDA highlighted that in 2022, more U.S. households faced food insecurity than in 2021. While a majority of Americans were food secure, the increase in insecurity is concerning.
According to USDA’s ERS:
- 87.2% of U.S. households remained food secure in 2022.
- However, 12.8% (or 17 million households) experienced food insecurity at times during the year.
- Of these, 6.8 million households reported low food insecurity.
- Households with children weren’t spared. In 2022, 8.8% of such households faced periods of food insecurity. This is a rise from 6.2% in 2021 and 7.6% in 2020.
Agriculture Secretary, Tom Vilsack, commented on the findings. He pointed out that as the pandemic’s intensity reduced in 2022, food insecurity issues increased.
