Reports
What Factors Account for State-to-State Differences in Food Security?USDA. Economic Research Service.
The prevalence of food security in a State depends not only on the characteristics of households in the State, such as their income, employment, and household structure, but also on State-level characteristics, such as average wages, cost of housing, levels of participation in food assistance programs, and tax policies. November 2006
South Carolina Food Stamp and Well-Being Study: Well-Being Outcomes Among Food Stamp Leavers (PDF | 236KB)USDA. Economic Research Service.
"This study examines data from a survey of families in South Carolina who left the Food Stamp Program (FSP) between 1998 and 2000. Study results show that families with rising incomes are less likely than families with lower incomes to experience food hardships or other adverse events or to have a negative view about life changes." September 2006
South Carolina Food Stamp and Well-Being Study: Transitions in Food Stamp and TANF Participation and Employment Among Families With Children (PDF | 872KB)USDA. Economic Research Service.
This study examines the role of program clocks, economic conditions, and other circumstances on participation in South Carolina's cash and food assistance programs. April 2006.
South Carolina Food Stamp and Well-Being Study: Transitions in Food Stamp Participation and Employment Among Adult-Only Households (PDF | 808KB)USDA. Economic Research Service.
This study examines administrative records for adult-only households from South Carolina's public assistance and Unemployment Insurance systems during 1996-2003. April 2006.
A Case Study of Eight Food Security Projects (PDF | 4.83MB)California Department of Health Services. Cancer Prevention and Nutrition Section. California Nutrition Network for Health, Active Families.
Report summarizes the activities and achievements of eight community food security and nutrition education projects in California. This report describes activities undertaken from 2000 to 2004. October 2005
Food Insecurity and Hunger in the United States: An Assessment of the MeasureCommittee on National Statistics of the National Academies.
This report presents the major findings, conclusions, and recommendations of a panel of experts who reviewed the concepts and methods for measuring food security and hunger. 2005.
Supermarket Characteristics and Operating Costs in Low-Income Areas
USDA. Economic Research Service.
"Discusses food pricing policies in low-income neighborhoods and whether stores serving low-income shoppers differ in important ways from stores that receive less of their revenues from Food Stamp redemptions." December 2004
Food Stamp Program-Elderly Nutrition Demonstrations: Interim Report on Elderly Participation PatternsUSDA. Economic Research Service.
"To raise participation in the Food Stamp Program (FSP) by low-income, elderly individuals, USDA implemented the Elderly Nutrition Demonstration in six States (Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Maine, Michigan, and North Carolina) in 2002. Preliminary analysis indicates that FSP participation by the elderly rose substantially after the demonstrations started." June 2004
Food Stamp Program Access Study: Eligible NonparticipantsUSDA. Economic Research Service.
"This report was produced as part of the Food Stamp Program (FSP) Access Study, which is examining local food stamp office policies and practices as possible barriers to participation. The report focuses on one group of eligible households, those who are not participating in the FSP." May 2004
Hunger: Its Impact on Children's Health and Mental HealthUSDA. Economic Research Service.
This study examines the independent contribution of child hunger to children's physical and mental health and academic functioning after controlling for a range of environmental, maternal, and child factors that also have been associated with poor outcomes among children. October 2002
Issues in Food Assistance-How Do Food Assistance Programs Improve the Well-Being of Low-Income Families?USDA. Economic Research Service.
This issues brief shows that the well-being of low-income families who participate in food assistance programs is enhanced by the alleviation of the severity of poverty, an increase in food security, satisfactory nutrient intake, and increases in household food expenditures. October 2002
Frequency and Duration of Food Insecurity and Hunger in U.S. HouseholdsUSDA. Economic Research Service.
Provides information on a study that appears in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, Vol 24, 2002. Describes it as the first nationally representative study of the extent to which food insecurity and hunger are frequent, recurring, or occasional in U.S. households that experience them. The findings add credibility to food security statistics based on the U.S. food security scale. September 2002
Effects of Food Assistance and Nutrition Programs on Nutrition and HealthUSDA. Economic Research Service.
Four reports summarize published research, evaluate data sources, and review research designs to assess the effect of USDA's food assistance and nutrition programs. February 2002.
Using USDA'sThrifty Food Plan To Assess Food Availability and Affordability (PDF | 233 KB)USDA. Economic Research Service
Report accessing food availability and affordability in Washington, DC that uses a weekly menu meeting the nutritional and dietary requirements of the Thrifty Food Plan. May 2001
Competing Forces Affect Food Prices for Low-Income Households (PDF | 65 KB)USDA. Economic Research Service.
This report, issued by the Economic Research Service (ERS) Examines factors influencing the prices paid for food by households of different income levels. Understanding of food costs for the poor would be helpful to nutrition educators who seek to help low-income households better manage their food budgets. February 1997.
Pages