"Hunger in America is getting worse, not better" according to an explosive new USDA report

As Americans all across the country report feeling increasingly pressed by inflated food prices, an explosive new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture reveals that about 18 million families — or 13.5% of U.S. households — struggled to access enough food, marking the highest levels of food insecurity in nearly a decade. According to report authors Matthew P. Rabbitt, Madeline Reed-Jones, Laura J. Hales and Michael P. Burke, the survey included “30,863 households, which comprised a representative sample of the U.S. civilian population of about 133 million households.” Researchers asked one adult respondent per household about experiences and behaviors that indicate food insecurity during calendar year 2023, such as being unable to afford balanced meals, cutting the size of meals, or being hungry because of too little money for food. “Policymakers must take immediate and decisive action to reverse these deeply troubling trends.” Mitchell characterized the current situation as “unconscionable,” noting that food insecurity disproportionately impacts Black and Hispanic households and those living in poverty. “These persistent disparities reflect the systemic economic and health inequities that continue to plague our country.” We need your help to stay independent Subscribe today to support Salon's progressive journalism While it might be tempting to solely attribute the spike in hunger to food inflation, food insecurity experts including Mitchell and Crystal FitzSimons, interim president of the Food Research & Action Center, point to pandemic-era programs that successfully aided in addressing the issue during a time of global upheaval. The latest Household Food Security report released today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service confirms FRAC’s ongoing warning: Without greater investments in anti-poverty and anti-hunger programs, hunger in this country will continue to climb.” FitzSimons emphasized that proposals to cut SNAP benefits—like the $30 billion reduction over the next decade currently under consideration—would only worsen the problem.