USDA’s Household Food Security Report for 2020 Shows Overall Food Insecurity Remained Steady in 2020, Though Key Population Subgroups Experienced Increases in Hardship
Last year, the COVID-19 pandemic created a hunger crisis that pushed at least 60 million people to turn to food banks, food pantries, and other private charitable food programs for help, according to an estimate by Feeding America. Additionally, bipartisan legislation provided support for federal nutrition programs and food banks. With the release today of the Household Food Security in the United States in 2020 report by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), which showed that overall food insecurity rates did not increase in 2020 from the previous year, we now know that this massive public/private response to hunger during the pandemic was successful in mitigating food insecurity rates across the country.
“Today’s report from the USDA found that over 38 million people, including over 11 million children, experienced food insecurity in 2020. 38 million people facing hunger is far too many, but without the unprecedented response from food banks and government nutrition programs, that number would have been far larger,” said Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America. “Last year, over 60 million people turned to the charitable food sector for support, and thanks to our community volunteers, donors, and dedicated staff, we distributed over 6 billion meals to people in need.”
While food insecurity levels from 2019 to 2020 remained flat overall, food insecurity improved for some sub-populations while worsening for others. In particular, the report reveals a deepening divide across racial and ethnic lines. An estimated 24.0% of Black individuals experienced food insecurity in 2020, up from 19.2% in 2019. For Latino individuals, there was an increase from 15.8% in 2019 to 19.3% in 2020. Compared to white individuals, Black individuals were 3.2 times more likely and Latino individuals were 2.5 times more likely to experience food insecurity. Additionally, food insecurity in 2020 increased for households with children and for people living in the South. While food insecurity in rural areas in 2020 remains higher than in urban areas, food insecurity levels increased in urban areas, especially in principal cities that were more affected by economic closures in 2020.
“People all over the country, in every county, parish, and borough, make difficult choices when it comes to food insecurity. Often, the choice is between paying for food or buying medicine, keeping the lights on, or even childcare. It’s also true that some communities, including rural communities and communities of color, make those choices and face hunger at disproportionately higher rates. In fact, today’s USDA food security report shows that the disparities are widening,” Babineaux-Fontenot added. “I believe that together we can work to end hunger in this county for everyone. We have the resources and we know what works. Let’s choose an America where no one is hungry.”
As part of the charitable food sector, the Feeding America network of food banks distributed more than six billion meals in 2020, an increase of 44% from the prior year. This record-breaking meal distribution was aided by the federal government through USDA foods, which provided 2.4 billion meals to people served by the Feeding America network in 2021. More importantly, the broader federal resources provided in 2020 through SNAP emergency allotments, child nutrition, and SNAP program waivers and expanded eligibility, Pandemic EBT, and other assistance helped temper food insecurity levels. Still, these measures are temporary; long-term expansions to the federal safety net will require additional action by Congress.
Babineaux-Fontenot continued, “We are at a pivotal moment in the anti-hunger movement. If we can sustain these efforts, such as the update to the Thrifty Food Plan, and extend certain federal interventions, including the Summer EBT program and the Child Tax Credit, we can continue to be there for our neighbors facing hunger so that one day in the near future, we can achieve food security for everyone in the US.”
To learn more about Feeding America’s hunger-relief efforts, visit feedingamerica.org.
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About Feeding America
Feeding America® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of more than 200 food banks, 21 statewide food bank associations, and over 60,000 partner agencies, food pantries and meal programs, we helped provide 5.3 billion meals to tens of millions of people in need last year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; brings attention to the social and systemic barriers that contribute to food insecurity in our nation; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
