47 Million Food Insecure Americans

47 Million Food Insecure Americans

Haylie Shipp
Haylie Shipp
World Food Day is an annual day to raise awareness of global hunger and food security issues. It is recognized on October 16th, the anniversary of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization's founding in 1945.

It’s a hard pill to swallow for farmers and ranchers here in the Southeast, busy day-in and day-out doing nothing but producing food. But what’s the reality for regional food insecurity?

Let’s start with a definition. “Food insecurity” is an official term from the USDA. It's when people don't have enough to eat and don't know where their next meal will come from. It's a big problem in the United States, where 47 million people, including 14 million children, experience food insecurity annually.

Nationally, 2022 numbers show that 13.5% of Americans are food insecure.

In Georgia, that number is 13.1%. Alabama’s food insecurity is much higher at 17.4%. And, in Florida, the food insecurity rate is just shy of the national average at 13.2%.

We’re not ending on a low note. For resources on how to help, visit FeedingAmerica.org

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