USDA Ends Household Food Security Survey, Raising Hunger Relief Concerns

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the end of the Household Food Security Survey, the nation's primary tool for tracking food insecurity in the United States. This decision has raised concerns among advocates and policymakers, who rely on the data to inform their efforts to combat hunger in the USA.

The survey, which measures how many people skip meals, cut portions, or go without food, provides crucial state-specific data. This allows resources to be allocated effectively, targeting areas with the highest need in the United States. However, the USDA defends its decision, citing the survey as 'redundant, costly, and politicized'. They plan to rely on existing Census and economic data to monitor food insecurity in the USA instead.

Lisa Ivaska from the Midwest Food Bank in Peachtree City warns that without the federal data, proving the scale of hunger to grantmakers and corporate donors will become harder. Advocacy groups like Hunger Free America use the USDA's data to report on food insecurity in the USA, with their latest findings showing that one in five Georgia children lack steady access to food. State Rep. Imani Barnes echoes these concerns, warning that losing the data undermines evidence-based policy efforts, such as her bill to provide free school lunches to all Georgia students in the United States.

The USDA's decision to end the Household Food Security Survey has sparked debate. While the department maintains that existing data can fill the gap, advocates and policymakers argue that the loss of state-specific data will hinder their ability to target hunger relief efforts effectively in the United States.