NEXUS | Nutrition Knowledge Hub | Food Security

Income instability, high living costs, community characteristics, chronic health conditions, and systemic discrimination all contribute to food security in the United States (2). 

• Income instability contributes to low food security as unreliable work, job loss, and financial emergencies can hinder building wealth. 
• A high cost of living can make it difficult for people to afford food in addition to other essentials, such as housing and healthcare.
• Community environments with limited public transportation or safety concerns can hinder food security by making it harder to access food.
• Chronic health conditions can be costly and reduce money available for food budgets, creating a reinforcing cycle where people who are not able to afford nutritious food tend to also be at an increased risk of nutrition-related diseases.

Historically inequitable policies, including redlining and neighborhood disinvestment, have created disparities in food security (2) by creating environments with corporate influence and limited access to resources (3). 

The Food and Agriculture Organization delineates four primary components of food security (4): 

• Physical availability of food, which is influenced by agricultural production, trade (imports and exports), and existing food stocks.  
• Food access refers to the physical and financial means by which individuals obtain food.  
• Food utilization involves consuming nutritious foods that supply sufficient energy, provide adequate nutrition, and offer a diverse diet.
• Stability of all components at all times is necessary to be considered food secure.     

Food security is related to several nutrition and health outcomes. A few examples reflect these impacts across the lifespan: 

• Babies whose mothers face malnutrition during pregnancy are more susceptible to low birth weight and poor neurodevelopment (5).
• Children experiencing low or very low food security are more likely to have poor mental health, poor academic outcomes, and higher risk of anemia (6).
• In a sample of 96,379 college students, low or very low food security was associated with greater odds of poor mental health outcomes, such as depression and anxiety (7).
• In later adulthood, low or very low food security is associated with a higher probability of hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, and cancer (8).

Food security data has been collected annually in the U.S. since 1995, as part of the Current Population Survey-Food Security Supplement (9). Two survey modules are typically used: the U.S. Household Food Security Survey Module, if there are children under the age of 17 living in the household, or the U.S. Adult Food Security Survey Module if only adults are living in the household (9). The surveys focus on behaviors and experiences within households associated with difficulty in meeting food needs. 

In September of 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) terminated future food security reports, ending U.S. measurement of household food access (10). This action  limits the ability to evaluate the impacts of policy changes on national food security patterns (11).

There are diverse programs and policies in communities, states, and at the federal level that try to address food security. A few key examples include the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), National School Lunch Program (NSLP), Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and the charitable food system. 

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes different food assistance and food system resources
• The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides further information about nutrition assistance programs, children's nutrition programs, and food distribution programs
• The Economic Research Services hosts key statistics and graphics related to food security
• Feeding America hosts a database where you can find a charitable food organization in your area

Last Reviewed on: 4/21/2026