Where households face hunger
In 2011, 14.9% of U.S. households did not have consistent, dependable access to enough food for active, healthy living, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says. The USDA calls this "low food security." The 14.9% was the highest level since it began surveying Americans in 1995.
Food insecurity, by state
Low food security
Low food security by household composition
Low food security by race/ethnicity of household
Troubled counties
Sources: Calculated by the USDA's Economic Research Service based on Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement data; Feeding America's Map the Meal Gap 2012.
By Mark Pearson, Julie Snider and Karl Gelles, USA TODAY