HUNGER ISSUES IN THE NEWS

2012

Number of Americans in poverty up 7 percent since 2009, but benefit programs have kept millions more from falling into poverty, according to U.S. Census Bureau Supplemental Poverty Measure

A Place at the Table. One Nation. Underfed.

This powerful film shows us how hunger poses serious economic, social and cultural implications for our nation. The film and what you can do.

SNAP cuts of $4.49 Billion proposed in U.S. Senate's version of 2012 Farm Bill

"The 2012 U.S. Farm Bill and hunger in America," The Examiner, June 10, 2012

(http://www.examiner.com/article/the-2012-u-s-farm-bill-and-hunger-america)

This article points out the importance of the Farm Bill to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The 5-year Farm Bill that expires at the end of September, will affect agriculture, food production and food assistance to those in need. 

 "Some numbers to consider:

• 80 percent of farm bill funding goes toward hunger programs, primarily SNAP. 
• 46 million Americans currently rely on SNAP to supplement their frugal diets.
• $100 billion goes toward other programs including farm subsidies, primarily for big business Agriculture 'commodity crops' such as corn and rice (as opposed to 'specialty crops' like fruits and vegetables)
• $100,000 (or more) annual income is what 50 percent of the farmers make who receive subsidies. "

Congress proposes cuts to SNAP, which provides nutrition assistance to the elderly, the disabled, children and low-income workers.  Details (pdf).

Tolerance of Poverty, Huffington Post, June 8, 2012

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marian-wright-edelman/tolerance-of-poverty_b_1582369.html?ref=impact&ir=Impact

". . . as economist Sheldon Danziger put it, 'Among rich countries, the U.S. is exceptional. We are exceptional in our tolerance of poverty.'" [He was commenting on the latest edition of UNICEF's report on child poverty.]  The UNICEF report "showed the United States ranks second out of 35 developed countries on the scale of what economists call 'relative child poverty' with 23.1 percent of its children living in poverty. Only Romania ranked higher [in the percent of children in poverty]."

"Healthy Food is a Better Deal Than Junk, USDA Says" - Wall Street Journal Health Blog, May 16, 2012

Excerpt: 

"Food economists traditionally measure the amount of calories you get for your money. By that measure, you still get more when you buy pizza, French fries or other foods high in sodium, salt and saturated fat.

But the USDA* study looked at a food's worth from a new perspective and concluded there's better value in fruits, vegetables, lean meat and low-fat milk. You may get fewer calories per dollar, researchers say, but you get more food when you're measuring based on price per weight, or price per portion."

See full report from USDA Economic Research Service (PDF): Are Healthy Foods Really More Expensive? It Depends on How You Measure the Price

* USDA is the U.S. Department of Agriculture

2011

Health

"The state of health in Tarrant County," by Jan Jarvis, Star-Telegram, March 18, 2011. "We're too fat, more of us are being diagnosed with diabetes, and about 1 in 4 Tarrant County adults has no health insurance. That's the portrait painted by Tarrant County Public Health in its third Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System project.  The data, collected from October 2009 through February 2010, cover everything from binge drinking to the percentage of adults who would drive their personal vehicle if ordered to evacuate after a major disaster."  Download complete report (PDF) on county residents' health.

Children

"Homeless Children: The Hard Times Generation," a report on U.S. children and teens descending into poverty as a result of the recession by CBS News, March 2011.