Food insecurity around the U.S. has risen this year, survey finds

Food insecurity in the United States is on the rise, with a recent report from Purdue University indicating that 14% of households reported trouble affording food between January and October of this year. This is an increase from 12.5% in 2024, highlighting the ongoing challenges that many Americans are facing when it comes to putting food on the table.

The surge in food insecurity is attributed to persistently high grocery costs, which have remained elevated even as inflation has slowed down compared to previous years. Poonam Gupta, a research associate at the Urban Institute, pointed out that food prices are still significantly higher than they were before the pandemic, making it difficult for many families to afford nutritious meals.

Adding to the concerns is the potential impact of new work requirements included in the “big, beautiful” tax and spending bill signed into law by President Trump. An estimated 2.4 million SNAP recipients could lose benefits due to these requirements, further exacerbating the issue of food insecurity across the country.

The researchers at Purdue define food insecurity as the inability of some household members to afford balanced meals, leading to instances of skipping meals or reducing food intake due to financial constraints. Their survey has become one of the primary national measures of food insecurity, especially since the U.S. Department of Agriculture canceled its annual Household Food Security survey in September.

While the Trump administration cited redundancy and cost as reasons for discontinuing the USDA survey, experts like Craig Gundersen, an economics professor at Baylor University, emphasized the importance of the data it provided. The Purdue survey, although smaller in scale, has been able to mirror federal food security data by asking participants similar questions and using statistical methods to ensure representativeness.

Overall, the increase in food insecurity in the U.S. is a concerning trend that underscores the ongoing challenges faced by many households in accessing affordable and nutritious food. As the cost of living continues to rise and government assistance programs face potential cutbacks, it is crucial to address these issues to ensure that all Americans have access to an an adequate food supply.