An estimated 17 million households reported problems finding enough food last year. That's a sharp jump from 2021 when boosted government aid helped ease the pandemic-induced economic shutdown.

An estimated 17 million households reported problems finding enough food in 2022 — a sharp jump from 2021 when boosted government aid helped ease the pandemic-induced economic shutdown.

A new Department of Agriculture report, released Wednesday, paints a sobering picture of post-pandemic hardship with “statistically significant” increases in food insecurity across multiple categories. Using a representative survey sample of roughly 32,000 American households the report said 12.8% (17 million households) reported occasional problems affording enough food in 2022 — up from 10.2% (13.5 million households) in 2021 and 10.5% (13.8 million households) in 2020.

Analysts and food security professionals point to the dual impact last year of high inflation and the gradual expiration of multiple pandemic-era government assistance measures.

    • agitatedpotato@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      3·
      1 year ago

      Been volunteering at a food pantry and a lot of people would be shocked how many people there, volunteers included, who like him. I can also offer anecdotal evidence that where I’m at were distributing more food than we ever have. Donations aren’t keeping up but they have a purchasing budget. We can go weeks without certain foodstuffs and sometimes when it all hits at once the storefront looks really grim. The town and state are smart enough to keep giving them what they need budget wise, but that’s all that’s keeping a lot of people’s heads over water right now.

  • jennwiththesea@lemmy.world
    2·
    1 year ago

    My friend volunteers at a food bank in a fairly affluent, bedroom community. She says they’ve seen massive increases in the number of clients they serve and the needs of those clients, all while resources are drying up. It’s rough out there.

  • andrew_bidlaw@sh.itjust.works
    31·
    1 year ago

    An estimated 17 million households reported problems finding enough food in 2022

    They do know where the food is, but this place demands funny presidental paper-things. It’s weird they are a problem. And that the owner declines those you’ve drawn at home. Ridiculous!