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Hunger in the world's leading power: More Americans are going hungry
🇩🇿 Algeria /Economy & Trade

Hunger in the world's leading power: More Americans are going hungry

From El Watan · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Documents & data Context piece
  • A New York Federal Reserve study reveals that food insecurity in the U.S. has reached a six-year high, surpassing pandemic levels.
  • Ten percent of American families reported skipping meals due to lack of food, and nearly 16% relied on food donations.
  • The increase is linked to economic inequality and rising fuel prices exacerbated by the war against Iran.

Food insecurity in the United States has reached its highest level in six years, according to a study published by the New York Federal Reserve. The findings indicate a significant increase compared to the pandemic era, with one in ten Americans now skipping meals due to a lack of food. Nearly 16% of families have resorted to using food banks for assistance.

During some distributions, people queue up two to three miles the night before the distribution begins.

— Amy BreitmannDirector of the Golden Harvest Food Bank in Augusta, Georgia, describing the scale of demand.

The Federal Reserve's February survey revealed that 10% of households nationwide reported skipping meals. This figure is a stark increase from 2020, when only 4% of households reported missed meals at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study attributes this "remarkable increase" in food insecurity to an "K-shaped" economy that widens the gap between affluent and modest households. Nearly 20% of families earning less than $50,000 annually were forced to skip meals, compared to less than 7% in 2020.

Food bank directors are witnessing unprecedented demand. Amy Breitmann, director of the Golden Harvest Food Bank in Augusta, Georgia, described queues of cars stretching for miles, with people sleeping in their vehicles the night before distributions. Nicole Williams, executive director of the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama, is expanding her facility to meet the growing need. She noted that seemingly stable households can be pushed into food insecurity by unexpected expenses like car repairs or medical bills.

Food insecurity, it can be your next-door neighbor.

— Nicole WilliamsExecutive Director of the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama, explaining how easily people can fall into hardship.

The survey was conducted before the February 28 escalation of the war against Iran, meaning the data reflects a situation that has since worsened. Fuel prices have surged dramatically, with the national average for a gallon of gasoline rising from $2.92 in early February to $3.70 by March 1, and reaching $4 by early May. This increase in fuel costs, coupled with rising food prices, further strains the budgets of vulnerable households.

When gasoline costs a little more, or food, or a car repair or a medical bill, it eats into what they could have spent on food.

— Nicole WilliamsExecutive Director of the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama, explaining the impact of rising costs on household budgets.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Watan in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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