Eliminating “Hunger” in the U.S.: Changes in Policy Regarding the Measurement of Food Security

In 2006, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that the word “hunger” would be removed from official policy statements, substituting it with “very low food security.” Technically, this change is valid given that the term “hunger” can have various meanings and that, while the Food Security Supplement (FSS) in the Current Population Survey (CPS) identifies problems with food access and nutritional adequacy at the household level, it does not objectively measure hunger among individuals. Yet, this reframing of policy does not convey the lived experience of “hunger” among Americans in terms of food insecurity. This article examines the potential consequences of this change in policy, and the reasons behind it. To contextualize this discussion, we offer a brief overview of the way in which “hunger” has been defined, and of the history of hunger policy, food assistance, and food security measures in the U.S. In the end, we suggest that although the exclusion of “hunger” may be technically valid, it is important that this term remain part of the food policy lexicon. Omitting “hunger” will only mask the dire conditions experienced by millions of Americans who struggle day-by-day to provide food for their families. This is especially true given the marked increases in the cost of food since mid–2008 and the fact that we are experiencing the worst recession since the Great Depression.