News

Report shows ‘significant decrease’ in food insecurity

The USDA’s Economic Research Service has released a new report on Household Food Security in the United States in 2015.

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack says the report marks a “significant benchmark” in the battle against hunger and food insecurity.

“Of most importance for me, in this report, is that the report points to the lowest figures on record for food insecurity among America’s children,” Vilsack says. “That’s a major achievement for our country’s efforts to ensure that every child has a safe, healthy future—filled with unlimited opportunities.”

The report indicates around 13 percent of American households were food insecure at least some time during the year in 2015, meaning they lacked access to enough food for an active, healthy life for all household members. That is down more than one percent from 2014.

AUDIO: Tom Vilsack–excerpt from conference call with ag reporters