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Noting that the persistence of hunger and food insecurity in the United States is an issue of pressing social and public health concern, this study examined the magnitude and severity of hunger and food insecurity in U.S. households in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Data were obtained from the August 1998, April 1999, and September 2000 Food Security Supplements of the Current Population Survey, a survey of about 50,000 households at state and national levels. The full interviewed sample represents the total national and state-level non-institutionalized population. Among the major findings of the study were that over 11 million households containing more than 33 million individuals reported limited or uncertain access to sufficient food due to inadequate resources. Nearly 3.3 million households reported hunger. At the state level, food insecurity and hunger varied considerably during 1998 to 2000, with the prevalence of food insecurity ranging from a low of 7.5 percent of households in New Hampshire to a high of 15.9 percent in New Mexico. The national rate was 10.8 percent. A band of states running from the Pacific Northwest through the Gulf of Mexico continues to demonstrate higher than average food insecurity and hunger rates. California, Texas, and Florida accounted for nearly a third of all individuals living in food insecure households. (Data tables present state prevalence rates of food insecurity and hunger, number of food insecure and hungry households, number of individuals in food insecure and hungry households--adults and children, and estimated margins of error for numbers of individuals in food insecure and hungry households--adults and children). (KB)

This report provides the most recent data on the food security of United States households. Based on studies using the Food Security Core Module (FSCM), a tool facilitating direct documentation of the extent of food insecurity and hunger caused by income limitations, this report summarizes 35 studies representing 20 states and Canada. The report is presented in three parts. Part 1 provides information on concepts, definitions, and resources related to food security measurement. Part 2 contains three indices to help readers locate material: (1) study location index; (2) population group/topic index; and (3) state index. Part 3 contains study summaries, each presented in two formats. The first provides information on the objectives, methods, and key findings and conclusions of the study along with information on obtaining the report. The second is a technical summary giving more detailed information on the instrument, methods, and implementation of the study. The technical summaries allow for comparisons across studies regarding specific issues. The preface to the report notes that there are now 5 consecutive years of national data on household food security and that state-level food security prevalence rates for 1996 to 1998 are available. In addition, specific at-risk populations are considered in a growing number of studies, including food stamp or welfare recipients, emergency food assistance recipients, legal immigrants, and general low-income populations. Finally, the locally initiated studies included in this report model the innovative collaborations between various non-profit organizations that make these studies feasible and maximize their impact on advocacy for improved local programs and policies. (KB)