Food Insecurity Persists in the U.S. – USDA Data, Food Desert Challenges, and Workforce Impacts

Food Insecurity Persists in the U.S.: Latest Data, Community Challenges, and Workplace Impacts

In 2024, food insecurity remained alarmingly common in the United States. New USDA data show that 13.7% of U.S. households – about 18.3 million households – had difficulty providing enough food for all members at some point during the year. Within this group, 5.4% of households (7.2 million) experienced very low food security, the most severe level where normal eating patterns are disrupted due to limited resources. These numbers were essentially unchanged from 2023’s levels, underscoring a persistent national crisis. While federal nutrition assistance programs like SNAP and WIC help millions, many families still struggle to put food on the table on any given day.

Trends in U.S. food insecurity (percentage of households) from 2001 through 2024, including very low food security. The overall food insecurity rate (solid line) hovered around 10–15% over two decades, with an uptick to ~14% by 2024. Very low food security (dotted line) has remained around 3–5%, rising slightly in 2024. Over one in eight U.S. households struggled to afford adequate food in 2024. The long-term data illustrate that hunger in America, after spikes during economic downturns, remains elevated in recent years.

Who is hit hardest?

Certain populations face even higher rates of food insecurity. Nearly 40% of households living below the poverty line were food insecure in 2024. Single-parent families – especially those led by single mothers – had above-average food insecurity rates, as did households of women living alone, and Black and Hispanic households. Even in households with children, parents often shield kids from hunger by sacrificing their own meals. Still, 18.4% of households with children experienced food insecurity last year, and in about 9.1% of those families, both children and adults went hungry at times. Disturbingly, in 0.9% of families (roughly 318,000 households), even the children experienced instances of very low food security – a stark indicator of extreme need.

Geography plays a role as well. State-level food insecurity rates vary widely across the country due to economic conditions and local policies. From 2022–2024, the share of households considered food insecure ranged from a low of about 9.0% in North Dakota to a high of 19.4% in Arkansas. Many of the states with the highest hunger rates are in the South, illustrating regional disparities. Even within states, rural areas and inner cities often have higher concentrations of hunger. These statistics show that where a family lives can impact their access to affordable, nutritious food – and that some communities face a much heavier hunger burden than others.

Nutrition Assistance Programs: SNAP, WIC, and the Safety Net

For decades, the USDA has monitored food security through an annual survey, using the data to inform federal food aid programs. The U.S. Department of Agriculture administers 16 domestic food and nutrition assistance programs, which collectively reach about 1 in 4 Americans over the course of a year. Major programs include SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), which provides electronic benefits to help low-income families buy groceries, WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children), which supports nutrition for pregnant mothers and young children, and child nutrition programs like National School Lunch. These initiatives are a lifeline for millions. In fiscal year 2024, federal spending on USDA food and nutrition assistance totaled $142.2 billion. This was lower than the prior year as pandemic-era emergency benefits expired, but need remains high. On average, 41.7 million people (about 12.3% of the U.S. population) received SNAP benefits each month in 2024. WIC participation and funding for school meals have also seen slight increases as many households grapple with elevated food costs. These programs substantially reduce hunger and food insecurity rates, yet gaps persist – not everyone eligible is enrolled, and benefit amounts often don’t last through the month.

It is worth noting a recent concerning development: in late 2025, USDA announced it would stop tracking household food insecurity after the final 2024 report. This decision to cancel the annual survey (after nearly 30 years) has alarmed anti-hunger experts, who warn that losing this benchmark data will hinder informed decisions on safety-net programs. Reliable monitoring is critical – it guides policy and budget priorities. Heritage Foundation USA is among the voices urging that this tracking continue, so that progress (or setbacks) in the fight against hunger can be measured and addressed transparently.

Food Deserts on the Ground: Killeen, Texas Case Study

National statistics only tell part of the story. On the ground, many Americans live in food deserts – areas with limited food options and no nearby grocery stores. A stark example is North Killeen, Texas, where residents have to drive 15–20 minutes to reach the nearest grocery store. Without a car, that journey can take over an hour on foot. This situation arose after the community’s only supermarkets (an H-E-B and an IGA) closed in 2019, officially leaving North Killeen designated as a food desert.

For locals like Anjali Arthur, the lack of a grocery store nearby makes daily life hard. “People who live in this area, like retired people, older people who don’t have transportation, are unable to get food,” Arthur explains.

The closest full-service store is miles away. One resident, Leo Arnelis, described pushing his elderly mother in a wheelchair for 40 minutes just to buy basic groceries like cereal. Often, their destination is not even a supermarket, but a Family Dollar discount store, where the selection is limited to canned goods, snacks, and a few staples. “We’re just buying grocery stuff – cereal, other food items, that’s all,” Leo says of these arduous trips. After a long trek to the store, it’s another 40 minutes back home.

With no supermarkets or full produce markets in North Killeen, many residents rely on fast food or the handful of small convenience marts for meals. Michael Thompson, who owns a local eatery, sees the consequences firsthand. “Our busy hours are from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. because that’s when most people are getting off work… and they don’t really have anywhere else to go, but most of them come here,” he notes. His restaurant serves hot meals to people who simply can’t buy fresh ingredients easily. Thompson also points out the transportation barriers – the city bus route no longer reaches that part of town, and many folks can’t even get a rideshare due to cost. “It’s just really everybody in a bad position if you’re not in a position (to have a car),” he says.

Community members have advocated for a new grocery store, and there were rumors of a Walmart coming to North Killeen. But six years later, the promised lot is still empty. In the meantime, families are making do with what’s available. Arthur, who has diabetes, worries about the toll on health. She needs fresh food for a proper diet, “and that’s not happening in this area,” she says bluntly. Neighbors are forced to pick up dinner at nearby fast-food restaurants, which is expensive and not nutritious. The Killeen example highlights how food insecurity often goes hand-in-hand with lack of access. When a community doesn’t have a grocery store nearby, residents with low income or no car face an uphill battle to obtain healthy food. Food deserts like this exist in urban neighborhoods and rural towns across America – solving hunger in these areas requires bringing affordable food retail to underserved zones, improving transportation to food sources, and supporting local initiatives like mobile markets or community gardens.

Hunger Undermines Work Performance and Productivity

Food insecurity isn’t just a personal or community issue – it also spills over into the workplace. Many employed Americans are among the food insecure, and hunger can directly affect their work performance. A new report in the Journal of Applied Psychology finds that food insecurity “impacts a sizable portion of the workforce,” not just unemployed individuals. Workers who struggle to afford food often experience stress, fatigue, and health problems that reduce their productivity on the job. It’s hard to perform well at work when you’re worrying about having enough to eat. As lead researcher Jason Moy notes, business leaders should recognize that supporting employees facing food insecurity is not only about compassion – it also benefits the businesses themselves through improved attendance, morale, and output.

There are concrete steps employers can take to address workforce food insecurity. The study suggests that companies can go beyond referring employees to outside charities, and directly provide assistance in the workplace. For example, employers could offer grocery store vouchers or stipends for workers in need, run an on-site or nearby workplace food pantry, facilitate community gardens for employees to grow fresh produce, or even arrange free transportation to food banks for those without reliable cars. Such measures ensure that employees don’t come to work hungry or distracted by how they will feed their families. “Businesses shouldn’t just rely on nonprofit organizations and government assistance when they could provide food for their own employees,” Moy explains, emphasizing that investing in employee well-being can pay off for companies in the long run. Especially in a tight labor market, employers have a stake in ensuring their staff are healthy and nourished – a hungry workforce is less productive and more prone to illness and turnover.

No One Should Go Hungry in Times of Celebration

For families dealing with food insecurity, the hardship is felt even more acutely during holidays and cultural celebrations. Special occasions that should be joyful can become stressful when a household cannot afford a celebratory meal. As one recent editorial cartoon poignantly expressed, “No one should have to worry about food insecurity, especially in times of celebration.” In Minnesota, a February 2026 cartoon highlighted how immigration fears compounded hunger for some Muslim families during Ramadan. With ICE agents’ actions making many Muslims afraid to leave their homes, a local Somali-run nonprofit (Isuroon) stepped up to provide food and support so that community members could observe Ramadan without going hungry. This story underscores the principle that access to food is a basic human dignity that should be protected at all times – and especially during important religious and cultural events.

Unfortunately, hunger does not pause for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Ramadan, or any holiday. Food banks and charities often see surges in demand around these times. Parents skip meals to try to save food or money for a small holiday dinner for their children. Seniors who live alone may suffer in silence rather than ask for help to have a meal for a special day. These scenarios are avoidable. America produces more than enough food; the challenge is ensuring food security for everyone, regardless of season. The Ramadan example from Minneapolis shows how communities can come together – volunteers delivering meals so that neighbors can celebrate without fear. Similar efforts happen nationwide: churches host free Thanksgiving dinners, mutual aid groups deliver Christmas baskets, and during Easter or other festivities volunteers share food with those in need. Still, such acts of charity, while heartwarming, are not a systemic solution. The ultimate goal is to ensure that no American has to worry about where their next meal will come from – on a holiday or any day.

Join the Fight to End Hunger

Despite the scale of the challenge, solutions to reduce food insecurity are within reach. Improving access to healthy food in food deserts, strengthening and expanding nutrition assistance programs like SNAP and WIC, encouraging sustainable local food systems (such as community gardens and farmers’ markets), and engaging employers and community organizations are all critical pieces. Progress is possible: even as food insecurity persists, innovative projects – from free mobile grocery markets to workplace pantry programs – are making a difference. What’s needed now is greater public support and action to expand these efforts and advocate for policies that ensure every family can afford and access the food they need for an active, healthy life.

Heritage Foundation USA is committed to this mission. We work to support hungry communities, inform policymakers with data-driven research, and implement practical programs that fight food insecurity across the nation. But we cannot do it alone. Your support is crucial to sustain and scale these hunger-fighting initiatives. Even a modest donation can help provide meals to families in need, fund nutrition education, and push for long-term solutions like grocery access in underserved areas. Together, we can ensure no one in America goes hungry. Every contribution makes a difference.