Reuters reports that hunger in the US, the world’s richest country, has intensified in urban and rural areas where residents do not have consistent access to nutritious food. Demand at Feeding America, a national network of food banks, rose by 60 per cent during the pandemic.
Even as the US economy recovers with government stimulus and falling Covid-19 cases, hunger worsens.
The Congressional Budget Office in February predicted the number of Americans using food stamps to buy food would peak at 44 million in 2022, up from 36.8 million pre-pandemic, before starting to decrease in 2023.
In the past, food security was mainly the concern of food banks and food pantries, but now all kinds of community organisations and other groups are getting involved – from anti-violence workers in Chicago to New York City probation officers. Meanwhile, food pantries nationwide have changed in ways that will continue post-pandemic.
Further reading:
- Soaring food costs force families to scrimp
- Exploding the five fat myths of ethical food
- UK food insecurity quadrupled since 2018
