Feeding America's ‘Map the Meal Gap’ reveals stark disparities in rural child hunger

Nearly 20% of children across the country are experiencing food insecurity and in some rural counties, child food insecurity rates are estimated to be as high as 50%, according to Feeding America’s annual Map the Meal Gap study. While most children in the U.S. live in urban metropolitan areas, over 80% of U.S. counties with the highest estimated rates of child food insecurity (in the top 10% of all counties) are rural.

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 level in nearly a decade. Map the Meal Gap emphasizes the need for the public to join the movement to end hunger.

“In just 15 years, Map the Meal Gap has grown into a powerful resource that informs conversations with community leaders and policymakers across the country about how the public can join together in the mission to end hunger,” said Melanie Hall, chief research & innovation officer for Feeding America. “This year’s study shows we still have work to do in creating a future where every child has access to the meals they need to learn, grow, play and thrive. For children, access to enough nutritious food is a necessity, as hunger can limit their potential and well-being.  As school summer breaks approach, we can all play a role in creating a summer where every child is nourished, whether it is volunteering or donating to your local food bank or advocating for policies that will support our nation’s families.”

Other key findings of Map the Meal Gap include: 

Food insecurity by geography and demographics:  

• Food insecurity impacts communities in every county, parish and congressional district in the U.S. People from all backgrounds and demographics experience food insecurity, but disparities exist.  
• Food insecurity is often linked to one or multiple factors, which can be related to household income, expenses, access to affordable health care, the surrounding social and physical environment, and barriers to opportunity.
• 85% of counties with the highest food insecurity are rural.
• Nearly 9 out of 10 high food insecurity counties are in the South, indicating regional disparities.
• An estimated 7.4 million seniors (60 and older) and 5.2 million older adults (50-59) experienced food insecurity in 2023.
• While the majority of people experiencing food insecurity nationally are non-Hispanic white, Black and Latino individuals experience food insecurity at disproportionately higher rates—estimated to be as high as 60% in some counties for which there are adequate public data.  

Income and spending:  

• More than 2 out of 5 people facing hunger may not be eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) since their incomes exceed the income eligibility threshold for these critical benefits. Not all who are eligible for the program participate in SNAP.  
• 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, and represents an increase for the third straight year.  
• 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. 

The Map the Meal Gap study is supported by Conagra Brands Foundation , NielsenIQ/NIQ  and Enterprise Mobility Foundation .

“For more than 30 years, Conagra Brands Foundation has partnered with Feeding America using a holistic approach that includes cash contributions, product donations and volunteer efforts. We support Map the Meal Gap because it provides valuable insights to help us all better understand the issue of food insecurity and how it impacts children, adults and seniors living in communities in every county across our nation. We hope that these findings inspire action and creative solutions that increase food access,” said Robert J. Rizzo, senior director, community investment, Conagra Brands and Conagra Brands Foundation.

“NIQ recognizes the ongoing need to address food insecurity within our communities. Our partnership with Feeding America underscores our commitment to support their essential mission of ensuring equitable access to nutritious food for all. Together, we are dedicated to working alongside communities so that our neighbors facing hunger can access the food and resources they say they need,” said Elizabeth Buchanan, president of North America, NielsenIQ (NIQ).

This research was also funded by the Enterprise Mobility Foundation as part of its Fill Your Tank program, a multi-year initiative launched in 2016 to address food insecurity in communities around the world. Enterprise Mobility’s commitment to Feeding America supports senior hunger and child hunger initiatives in communities across the United States. 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. 

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About Feeding America

Feeding America is committed to an America where no one is hungry. We support tens of millions of people who experience food insecurity to get the food and resources they say they need to thrive as part of a nationwide network of food banks, statewide food bank associations, food pantries and meal programs. We also invest in innovative solutions to increase equitable access to nutritious food, advocate for legislation that improves food security and work to address factors that impact food security, such as health, cost of living and employment. We partner with people experiencing food insecurity, policymakers, organizations, and supporters, united with them in a movement to end hunger. Visit FeedingAmerica.org to learn more.