A recent Feeding America study shows that child food insecurity affects every county in the United States, with rates as high as 50%

Child food insecurity affects every county in the United States, with rates reaching almost 50% in some areas, according to Feeding America’s annual Map the Meal Gap study. At the local level, Map the Meal Gap finds that 1 in 3 children in the Carolinas experience food insecurity. Feeding the Carolinas (FTC) is part of the Feeding America nationwide network of more than 200 food banks, 22 statewide food bank associations, and 60,000 agency partners, food pantries, and meal programs.

Map the Meal Gap, now in its 15th year, 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 USDA’s most recent report of national and state data, which showed 47 million people, including 14 million children, experienced food insecurity in 2023, the highest rate in more than a decade. Map the Meal Gap emphasizes the need for the public to join the movement to end hunger.

“Leveraging the data in this year’s study will help us address challenges shared with us by people facing hunger and identify local ways to support our community,” said Jamie Butler Alt, Policy & Advocacy Specialist for FTC.

 

“Hunger remains an urgent crisis in the Carolinas. When we listen to people facing hunger and use the study’s findings, we can unite in our efforts to create a future where everyone, including children, has access to the nutritious food they need to thrive. Now is the time to be vocal. Contact your legislator today.”

Here are some additional findings from Map the Meal Gap: 

• Food insecurity impacts communities in every county, parish, and congressional district in the U.S. Food insecurity is experienced by people from all backgrounds and demographics, but disparities exist. 
• Estimated food insecurity levels vary across the country, influenced by income-related factors, like unemployment, poverty, high cost of living, community- and health-related factors, and systemic barriers to opportunity that have created disparities in food insecurity.  
• Nationwide, nearly 9 out of 10 high food insecurity counties are rural, indicating regional disparities. This is true in the Carolinas, where 50% of our counties are rural.
• As Feeding the Carolinas serves all 146 counties across the Carolinas, we see food insecurity range from a low of 11.1% in York County, SC, and Union County, NC, to a high of 21.9% in Robeson County, NC.
• Food insecurity also varies for different age groups. Among children, food insecurity in the Carolinas ranges from a low of 9.8% in Orange County, NC, to a high of 37% in Halifax County, NC. Meanwhile, the food insecurity rate among seniors aged 60+ is 7.8% in the Carolinas.
• In the Carolinas, available data by race/ethnicity shows that 10.5% of white individuals, 27% of Black individuals, and 21.5% of Latino individuals experienced food insecurity in 2023. 

Income and Program Eligibility: 

• Nationally, more than 2 out of 5 people facing hunger may not qualify for SNAP benefits due to income limits. Here in the Carolinas, more than 45.5% of people facing hunger may not qualify for SNAP, and more than 28% of children facing hunger may not qualify for free or reduced-price meals.

Food Spending and Prices: 

• The national food budget shortfall–which reflects the extra money that people who are food insecure report needing to cover their food needs– is $32 billion. This translates to $22.37 a week per person, on average. Residents of the Carolinas feel this firsthand, with an estimated food budget shortfall of $785,395,000.  
• Individuals who were food secure in 2023 reported spending an average of $3.58 per meal. Meal costs vary significantly by county throughout the nation, ranging from $2.60 to $6.09, showcasing the diverse economic challenges faced by communities. In the Carolinas, the average cost per meal is $3.45, which reflects the growing need we see at our partner food banks.