Food Insecurity in the U.S. 

Food Insecurity is defined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as t he “limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways.” There are  four different food security categories one could find themselves in. The first is referred to as “high food security,” and these households have no issues with accessing nutritionally adequate and safe food. Households with “marginal food security” have problems at times with access to adequate foods, however,  quality, variety, and quantity of their food intake were not substantially reduced. “Low food insecurity” households are ones that do experience a reduction in the quality, variety, and desirability of their diets, but the quantity of food intake and normal eating patterns were not substantially disrupted. Lastly, “very low food security” households would be described as, at times during the year, eating patterns of one or more household members were disrupted and food intake reduced because the household lacked money and other resources for food.