St. Louis Metro Hunger Atlas 2010

Abstract

Food insecurity is on the rise in the U.S. While 11.1% of households were food insecure in 2007, just one year later that number jumped to 14.6% (Andrews and Nord, 2009). Many food insecure households seek assistance from food pantries. An estimated 4.1 million households accessed emergency food from a food pantry at least once in 2008, an increase from the previous year. This brief assesses the extent of food insecurity and food uncertainty in the Missouri counties of the St. Louis metropolitan area. It alsobegins to gauge how well public programs are doing in meeting the needs of those of our fellow citizens who have difficulty acquiring sufficient amounts and qualities of food. The concept of food security, as defined by the Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Program within the United States Department of Agriculture, is access by all people at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life.