May 17, 2024 – The extra amount of money that people facing hunger said they need to have enough food reached its highest point in the last 20 years, according to Feeding America’s annual Map the Meal Gap study. At the local level, Map the Meal Gap finds that over 1.5 million Pennsylvanians, including more than 436,000 children, are facing hunger. Feeding Pennsylvania’s network of nine food banks that serve all sixty-seven counties in the commonwealth are included in the more than 200 food banks that are part of Feeding America’s nationwide food bank network.
Map the Meal Gap is the only study that provides local-level estimates of food insecurity and food costs for every county and congressional district. The study builds upon the USDA’s latest report of national and state data, which showed a sharp increase in food insecurity in 2022 amidst historically high food prices and the expiration of many pandemic-era programs. Map the Meal Gap emphasizes the urgent call for all of us to take action.
“The insights from this year’s study confirm what we hear from our food banks about people facing hunger: elevated food prices are making hunger in America worse,” said Feeding PA CEO Julie Bancroft. “This powerful tool helps us understand the impact of food insecurity and underlines that we can choose to end hunger in America by coming together as a nation.”
Food Insecurity by Geography:
- Food insecurity impacts communities in every county, parish and congressional district in the U.S.
- Estimated food insecurity levels vary across regions, influenced by factors like unemployment and poverty rate as well as policies and practices rooted in history that continue to hold people back today.
- In Pennsylvania, food insecurity ranges from a low of 8.1% in Chester County to a high of 16.8% in Forest County. Overall, over 1.5 million people in Pennsylvania identify as food-insecure, bringing the state-wide food insecurity rate to 11.9%.
- Nationally, child food insecurity rates can reach almost 50% in some counties. Here in Pennsylvania, more than 436,000 children experience hunger; the state-wide child food insecurity rate is 16.9%.
- Rural counties disproportionately experience high levels of food insecurity compared to urban areas. This is true in Pennsylvania, which sees high levels of food insecurity across our rural counties.
Income and Food Spending:
- Nearly 50% of people facing hunger may not qualify for SNAP benefits due to income thresholds. Here in Pennsylvania, the percentage is 49% of people facing hunger may not qualify for SNAP.
- The national food budget shortfall, which reflects the extra money that people who are food insecure report needing to cover their food needs, has hit a record high of $33.1 billion, up nearly 43% from the previous year. This translates to $24.73 a week per person, on average.
Food Costs and Meal Prices:
- The national average cost per meal has increased to $3.99, marking a nearly 3% increase compared to the prior year and reaching its highest point in the last two decades, even after adjusting for inflation.
- Meal costs vary significantly by county throughout the nation and here in Pennsylvania, ranging from $2.91 to $6.67, showcasing the diverse economic challenges faced by communities. In Pennsylvania, the average cost per meal is $4.05, which reflects the growing need we see at our member food banks across the state.
Food Insecurity by Race and Ethnicity:
- While nationally nearly 40% of the food insecure population in the U.S. is White, food insecurity rates among Black and Latino individuals exceed those of White individuals in most counties. These disparities are an example of how historical, social, economic and environmental factors have held many communities of color back, creating barriers to food insecurity.
- Racial disparities persist, with significant variations in food insecurity rates across different racial and ethnic groups and geographic locations.
- Pennsylvania is no exception. While White residents experience a food insecurity rate of 9%, the food insecurity rate for Black and Latino residents are 27% and 25% respectively.
The Map the Meal Gap studyis supported by Conagra Brands Foundation and NielsenIQ/NIQ. Additional key takeaways from the report can be found on the Map the Meal Gap website along with an interactive map that details food insecurity by geography, income, race, and ethnicity.
Methodology:
Map the Meal Gap uses publicly available data from the USDA ERS, U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics to estimate local food insecurity at the county, congressional district and state levels. The study also estimates local meal costs and food budget shortfalls using food price data from NIQ based on the USDA Thrifty Food Plan, and grocery sales tax data for every county and state in the country.
To learn how food insecurity impacts your community, visit FeedingAmerica.org/MaptheMealGap. For more information about Feeding Pennsylvania and how to help end hunger in the Commonwealth, visit feedingpa.org.
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About Feeding Pennsylvania
Feeding Pennsylvania is the state association of nine Feeding America-affiliated food banks serving all sixty-seven counties of the Commonwealth. Each year, our member food banks distribute over 164 million pounds of food to 1.2 million people through a network of almost 3,000 agencies and feeding programs. Feeding Pennsylvania’s mission is to aid in securing food and other resources for member food banks and to elevate a united voice to address hunger and food insecurity across the state. For more information about Feeding Pennsylvania, please visit feedingpa.org.
About Feeding America
Feeding America® is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. As a network of more than 200 food banks, 21 statewide food bank associations, and over 60,000 agency partners, including food pantries and meal programs, we helped provide 5.2 billion meals to tens of millions of people in need last year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; brings attention to the social and systemic barriers that contribute to food insecurity in our nation; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Visit www.FeedingAmerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.