Household Food Security in the U. S. (2006)

Book excerpt: 89% of Amer. households were food secure throughout 2006, meaning that they had access at all times to enough food for a healthy life for all household members. The remaining households (11%) were food insecure at least some time during the year. About 1/3 of food insecure households (4% of all U.S. households) had very low food security -- meaning that the food intake of one or more adults was reduced & their eating patterns were disrupted because the household lacked money for food. The typical food-secure household spent 31% more on food than the typical food-insecure household of the same size. Over half of all food-insecure households participated in one or more of the Fed. food & nutrition assistance programs. Tables & graphs.