Map the Meal Gap: Exploring Food Insecurity at the Local Level

INTRODUCTION

Food insecurity is a serious challenge facing millions of Americans. In 2010, there were over 49 million food insecure persons, a 30 percent increase since 2007. The prevalence of food insecurity is of great concern to policymakers and program administrators, due in large measure to its negative health consequences.

METHODS

In 2011, Feeding America released county-level estimates of food insecurity (Map the Meal Gap) using a two-step process. First, the relationship between various factors (e.g., the unemployment rate) and food insecurity were estimated at the state level using data from the Current Population Survey. Second, using the coefficients estimated in the first step and the same variables defined at the county level with data from the American Community Survey, the extent of food insecurity for all counties was established.

RESULTS

We enhance the Map the Meal Gap by considering three key questions: How have estimated rates of food insecurity at the county level changed from 2009 to 2010? How do the determinants of food insecurity at the county level differ between the full population and children? How do alternative specifications of the state-level determinants of food insecurity influence county-level estimates?

DISCUSSION

Map the Meal Gap was greeted with a great deal of attention from the media, policymakers, and program administrators and it is being utilized extensively as a new tool by Feeding America's member food banks for targeting programs; tailoring food distribution programs; and framing strategic planning. This paper will serve to further improve this work and its uses.