Ok, here’s my beef with this report. From what I can gather by researching the methodology for this study on the USDA’s website, this is how these numbers were calculated. Americans were surveyed and asked a series of food relation questions, answering affirmatively or negatively and indicating frequency. When 3 or more questions were answered affirmatively, the respondants were considered food insecure (according to the report = 15%). However, many of these questions are worded in such a way that anyone – food insecure or not – could answer yes.
The questions answered most often affirmatively were: 1) Worried food would run out before (I/we) got money to buy more, 19.7 answering yes. Isn’t everyone worried about this? That’s why people budget and ensure they have enough money for FOOD. 2) Food bought didn’t last and (I/we) didn’t have money to get more, 15.3 answering yes. So someone who spent all their money on their cell phone and car payments would obviously answer yes to this question. 3) Couldn’t afford to eat balanced meals, 14.8 answering yes. Isn’t this the number 1 excuse for people who need to lose weight, but don’t want to do the real work? 4) Adult(s) cut size of meals or skipped meals, 9.2 yes. Personally, we’ve started cutting portion sizes just because our portions have gotten too big. 5) Relied on few kinds of low-cost food to feed child(ren), 17.5 yes. Kids are picky. I know many people who rely on mac & chese and hot dogs (low cost food options) to feed their picky children so they don’t have to deal with the whining from the kids. If I’ve got kids over, I rely pizza to feed them just so there is no drama. So this is food insecurity?
Keep in mind that respondants only had to answer yes to 3 of these types of questions to be considered food insecure. If they answered more than 6 yes, they were considered VERY LOW FOOD SECURE. So conceivable, my family – my amanda bynes boyfriend and I – could be considered food insecure, which is simply untrue.
In fact, there was only one question that I feel actually asked the correct question: Respondant hungry but didn’t eat because couldn’t afford. Only 4.6% answered yes to this question. Only 1.6% of the respondants said this occurred every month. Only 1.6% of households didn’t eat because they couldn’t afford it at least once every month in 2008. For me, THIS is the definition of someone who has trouble putting food on the table and this is a far cry from 15%.
Further, the respondants were asked to answer questions about how much they spent on food. That amount was then compared to the USDA’s thrifty plan cost, which is considered the minimum that needs to be spend to provide a low-cost, nutritious diet. Since, I am a couple, I’ll use the thrifty plan cost for a couple with no children, $83/ week, to illustrate my point. Our spending on food (including food at home and at restaurants) was $88/ week in August 09, $83/ week in 9/09, $68/ week in 10/09. Keep in mind that this amount includes $140/ month eating out, which could easily be cut if money were tight. (For anyone who might find issue with my amounts, keep in mind that I shop the sales with coupons regularly and I keep all the receipts). So essentially based on our food expenditures, we would be considered food insecure, possibly even very low food insecurity. And I can assure you that we are NOT food insecure.
Obviously this report is inaccurate. I really wish the WSJ would stop just publishing press releases and actually get the real info. Also, I volunteer at a food pantry once a week. From my experience, 90% of the people who come to the pantry have cell phones and car payments. Most have cars and phones that are much nicer than mine, but yet they come to a food pantry. Why? Because they can get help with food, but they can’t get help with their phone and car payments. So they prioritize those expenditures that they MUST pay themselves.
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