Approximately one in five adults reported experiencing household food insecurity1 in
spring 2020 and in summer 2022 after a decline in reported food insecurity in spring
2021.
Our estimate of household food insecurity is based on the six-item short form of the USDA’s Household Food
Security Survey Module and uses a 30-day reference period. Respondents with two to four affirmative responses
are defined as having low household food security, and respondents with five to six affirmative responses are
defined as having very low household food security. These groups are jointly defined as food insecure.
Affirmative responses include reporting that it was often or sometimes true that the food the household bought
did not last, and the household did not have money to get more; it was often or sometimes true that the
household could not afford to eat balanced meals; adults in the household ever cut the size of meals or skipped
meals because there was not enough money for food; meals were cut or skipped for three or more of the last 30
days; the respondent ate less than they felt they should because there was not enough money for food; and the
respondent was ever hungry but did not eat because there was not enough money for food.
