A new report from the Economic Research Service shows that food insecurity increased in 2022, affecting nearly 13% of U.S. households. This marks a significant rise from the previous year’s 10.2%.
Experts attribute this change to several factors, including the expiration of pandemic-era assistance programs and continued inflation in food prices. Households with children experienced even higher rates of food insecurity, reaching almost 17%.
“These findings highlight the ongoing challenges many Americans face in consistently accessing adequate nutrition,” said Dr. Maria Chen, lead researcher at the Feeding America Network. “The data suggests we need to strengthen our food safety net.”
The report also found substantial regional variations, with southern states showing the highest prevalence of food insecurity. Community food banks across the country report increased demand for services in response to these trends.
