Hunger and Food Programs

HIGHLIGHTS

Significant Food Shortages Rare in America
According to the USDA, "food insecurity" is almost always a recurring and episodic problem rather than a chronic condition. Read More.
Hunger Hysteria
Contrary to the claims of poverty advocates, the major dietary problem facing poor Americans is too much, not too little, food. Public policies should be directed toward encouraging the poor to avoid chronic over-consumption, exercise more, and reduce intake of foods rich in fat and added sugar. Read More.
Expanding Federal Food Programs: Means-Tested Aid for Families with Children
As the national debt rises rapidly toward 100 percent of GDP, it is clear that the current growth of government spending is unsustainable. In that context, calls for long-term increases in spending on school meal programs are irresponsible. Read More.
Reforming Food Stamps to Promote Work and Reduce Poverty and Dependence
The replacement of AFDC with the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program (TANF) has led to record declines in dependence and poverty. Read More.

Our Research & Offerings on Hunger and Food Programs

Issue Brief posted May 17, 2012 by Ambassador Terry Miller, Anthony Kim G8 Food Security Agenda Should Encourage Greater Economic Freedom, Not More Dependency
President Obama is hosting the 38th annual G8 summit May 18–19 at Camp David. It is expected to be “a short summit of less than 24 hours, yielding only a five-page communiqué.”[1] The deplorable reality is that in recent years, the credibility and relevance of the G8 summit…
Special Report posted February 8, 2012 by William Beach, Patrick Tyrrell The 2012 Index of Dependence on Government
Abstract: The great and calamitous fiscal trends of our time—dependence on government by an increasing portion of the American population, and soaring debt that threatens the financial integrity of the economy—worsened yet again in 2010 and 2011. The United States has long reached the…
Executive Summary posted July 19, 2011 by Robert Rector, Rachel Sheffield Executive Summary: Air Conditioning, Cable TV, and an Xbox: What Is Poverty in the United States Today?
Read the full text here Each year for the past two decades, the U.S. Census Bureau has reported that over 30 million Americans were living in “poverty.” In recent years, the Census has reported that one in seven Americans are poor. But what does it…
Backgrounder posted July 19, 2011 by Robert Rector, Rachel Sheffield Air Conditioning, Cable TV, and an Xbox: What is Poverty in the United States Today?
Read the Executive Summary Abstract: For decades, the U.S.…
Commentary on November 24, 2010 Significant Food Shortages Rare in America
As Thanksgiving arrives, we usually hear an increased clamor about "hunger" in America. This year is no exception. Timed to the holiday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture just released its annual report on household food security in the United States. According to the USDA, some 17 million…
Play Movie Video Recorded on October 19, 2010 Robert Rector on Free and Reduced Price Lunches on FNC
Robert Rector comments on the free and reduced price school lunch program. …
Report on August 17, 2010 Solutions for America: The Unsustainable Growth of Welfare
THE ISSUE: Despite spending almost $16 trillion since the War on Poverty began in 1964, welfare programs have failed to reduce the causes of poverty, and instead have hurt many of the people they were intended to help. Poverty in…
Play Movie Video Recorded on January 26, 2010 Robert Rector on the stimulus on CNN
Robert Rector, Senior Research Fellow of the Heritage Foundation discusses the stimulus on CNN. He explains how food stamps are an expandment of welfare and how it won't put more jobs into the economy. …
Commentary posted December 23, 2009 by Edwin Feulner, Ph.D. A Hand Up, Not a Hand Out
For many of us, the holiday season means gathering with friends and family and celebrating with food and drink. Too much food, in many cases. But for a few Americans the problem isn't overeating -- it's getting enough to eat in the first place. A recent study by the Agriculture Department…
Backgrounder posted June 26, 2008 by Brett Schaefer, Ben Lieberman, Brian Riedl Addressing the Global Food Crisis
Prices for corn, wheat, soybeans, rice, and other food staples have risen sharply over the past year. This has strained the ability of poor people in developing countries to feed their families and fomented widespread anger. Since mid-2007, the rising prices have led to protests and riots in Burkina …

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Special Report posted February 8, 2012 by William Beach, Patrick Tyrrell The 2012 Index of Dependence on Government
Abstract: The great and calamitous fiscal trends of our time—dependence on government by an increasing portion of the American population, and soaring debt that threatens the financial integrity of the economy—worsened yet again in 2010 and 2011. The United States has long reached the…
Report on August 17, 2010 Solutions for America: The Unsustainable Growth of Welfare
THE ISSUE: Despite spending almost $16 trillion since the War on Poverty began in 1964, welfare programs have failed to reduce the causes of poverty, and instead have hurt many of the people they were intended to help. Poverty in…
Commentary on November 24, 2010 Significant Food Shortages Rare in America
As Thanksgiving arrives, we usually hear an increased clamor about "hunger" in America. This year is no exception. Timed to the holiday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture just released its annual report on household food security in the United States. According to the USDA, some 17 million…
WebMemo on November 13, 2007 Hunger Hysteria: Examining Food Security and Obesity in America
This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its annual report on household food security in the United States. According to USDA, some 12.5 million households, or roughly 11 percent of all households, experienced "household food insecurity" at some point in 2006 and some 35 million people lived in households with some form of…
Executive Summary posted July 19, 2011 by Robert Rector, Rachel Sheffield Executive Summary: Air Conditioning, Cable TV, and an Xbox: What Is Poverty in the United States Today?
Read the full text here Each year for the past two decades, the U.S. Census Bureau has reported that over 30 million Americans were living in “poverty.” In recent years, the Census has reported that one in seven Americans are poor. But what does it…
Commentary posted November 22, 2007 by Robert Rector Hunger Hysteria
Examining food security and obesity in America. This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its annual report on household food security in the United States. According to USDA, some 12.5 million households, or roughly 11 percent of all households, experienced "household food insecurity" at some point in 2006 and some 35…
Backgrounder posted July 19, 2011 by Robert Rector, Rachel Sheffield Air Conditioning, Cable TV, and an Xbox: What is Poverty in the United States Today?
Read the Executive Summary Abstract: For decades, the U.S.…
Testimony posted June 27, 2001 by Robert Rector Reforming Food Stamps to Promote Work and Reduce Poverty and Dependence
Summary The Food Stamp program is one of the largest means-tested welfare programs in the nation. Although Food Stamps are given to a wide variety of individuals, 80 percent of Food Stamp aid goes to families with children. Of the aid going to families with children, some 85 percent goes to children in single parent…
Issue Brief posted May 17, 2012 by Ambassador Terry Miller, Anthony Kim G8 Food Security Agenda Should Encourage Greater Economic Freedom, Not More Dependency
President Obama is hosting the 38th annual G8 summit May 18–19 at Camp David. It is expected to be “a short summit of less than 24 hours, yielding only a five-page communiqué.”[1] The deplorable reality is that in recent years, the credibility and relevance of the G8 summit…
Commentary posted December 23, 2009 by Edwin Feulner, Ph.D. A Hand Up, Not a Hand Out
For many of us, the holiday season means gathering with friends and family and celebrating with food and drink. Too much food, in many cases. But for a few Americans the problem isn't overeating -- it's getting enough to eat in the first place. A recent study by the Agriculture Department…

Find more work on Hunger and Food Programs

Issue Brief posted May 17, 2012 by Ambassador Terry Miller, Anthony Kim G8 Food Security Agenda Should Encourage Greater Economic Freedom, Not More Dependency
President Obama is hosting the 38th annual G8 summit May 18–19 at Camp David. It is expected to be “a short summit of less than 24 hours, yielding only a five-page communiqué.”[1] The deplorable reality is that in recent years, the credibility and relevance of the G8 summit…
Special Report posted February 8, 2012 by William Beach, Patrick Tyrrell The 2012 Index of Dependence on Government
Abstract: The great and calamitous fiscal trends of our time—dependence on government by an increasing portion of the American population, and soaring debt that threatens the financial integrity of the economy—worsened yet again in 2010 and 2011. The United States has long reached the…
Executive Summary posted July 19, 2011 by Robert Rector, Rachel Sheffield Executive Summary: Air Conditioning, Cable TV, and an Xbox: What Is Poverty in the United States Today?
Read the full text here Each year for the past two decades, the U.S. Census Bureau has reported that over 30 million Americans were living in “poverty.” In recent years, the Census has reported that one in seven Americans are poor. But what does it…
Backgrounder posted July 19, 2011 by Robert Rector, Rachel Sheffield Air Conditioning, Cable TV, and an Xbox: What is Poverty in the United States Today?
Read the Executive Summary Abstract: For decades, the U.S.…
Report on August 17, 2010 Solutions for America: The Unsustainable Growth of Welfare
THE ISSUE: Despite spending almost $16 trillion since the War on Poverty began in 1964, welfare programs have failed to reduce the causes of poverty, and instead have hurt many of the people they were intended to help. Poverty in…
Backgrounder posted June 26, 2008 by Brett Schaefer, Ben Lieberman, Brian Riedl Addressing the Global Food Crisis
Prices for corn, wheat, soybeans, rice, and other food staples have risen sharply over the past year. This has strained the ability of poor people in developing countries to feed their families and fomented widespread anger. Since mid-2007, the rising prices have led to protests and riots in Burkina …
WebMemo on November 13, 2007 Hunger Hysteria: Examining Food Security and Obesity in America
This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its annual report on household food security in the United States. According to USDA, some 12.5 million households, or roughly 11 percent of all households, experienced "household food insecurity" at some point in 2006 and some 35 million people lived in households with some form of…
Backgrounder posted March 21, 2006 by Kirk Johnson Ph.D. What the Latest Numbers on Hunger and Food Insecurity Really Say
America's Second Harvest, a national network of food banks and food rescue organizations, released its quadrennial Hunger in America survey on February 23, 2006, [1] only a few months after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its annual food insecurity and hunger study. …
Backgrounder posted December 16, 2004 by Melissa Pardue, Robert Rector, Kirk Johnson, Ph.D. Mayors' Claims of Growing Hunger Are Once Again Exaggerated
On December 14, the United States Conference of Mayors and Sodexho-USA released the results of their annual survey of hunger and homelessness in America. The mayors have released a similar report each year since 1986. The report measures "hunger" by the number of persons using food banks or soup kitchens.…
Backgrounder posted December 15, 2003 by Melissa Pardue, Robert Rector, Kirk Johnson, Ph.D. Mayors' Claims of Growing Hunger Appear Wildly Exaggerated
On Thursday, December 18, the United States Conference of Mayors will release its annual report on hunger and homelessness in America. The mayors have released a similar report each year since 1987. The report measures "hunger" by the number of persons using food banks or soup kitchens. The Conference of Mayors has…

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