November 16, 2009 – The US Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (ERS) has released a report showing an increase in the number of families struggling to put food on the table.

The report, available at www.ers.usda.gov/features/householdfoodsecurity/, states that last year 17 million households, or 14.6 percent, experienced food insecurity, an increase from 13 million homes, or 11.1 percent, in 2007.  USDA highlighted the importance of federal nutrition programs, including the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs, in meeting this growing need, and pointed to the findings as evidence for the importance of strengthening the programs during Child Nutrition Reauthorization.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack commented that “As the Obama Administration works to foster a robust recovery for all, it's important to recognize that we have another opportunity to improve the health and nutrition of our children when Congress begins to debate the Child Nutrition Reauthorization.  It is vital that we make it easier for families and administrators to bring eligible children into the program and to eliminate gap periods when children struggle to find the nutrition assistance they need - at breakfast, during summer, and in after-school settings."

In advance of reauthorization, the School Nutrition Association and its members nationwide have been calling on Congress to increase federal funding for school meals programs.  For more information on how you can support these efforts, visit SNA’s Legislative Action page.

Click here to read USDA’s news release on the report.