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Perhaps these definitions of "hunger" will be more palatable:
Thirty-three million people including 13 million children live in households that experience hunger or the risk of hunger. This represents one in ten households in the United States.(1)
3.1 percent of U.S. households experience hunger: they frequently skip meals or eat too little, sometimes going without food for a whole day. Nearly 8.5 million people, including 2.9 million children, live in these homes. (1)
7.3 percent of U.S. households are at risk of hunger: they have lower quality diets or must resort to seeking emergency food because they cannot always afford the food they need. 24.7 million people, including 9.9 million children, live in these homes. (1)
Millions of poor children suffer from chronic under-nutrition, the under-consumption of essential nutrients and food energy. The risk of nutrient deficiencies that can lead to serious health problems, including impaired cognitive development, growth failure, physical weakness, anemia and stunting. (2)
A survey of America’s Second Harvest national network of food banks in late 2001 and early 2002 found that 86% had seen an increase in requests for food assistance during the past year. (3)
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Sources:
(1). ERS Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Report No. (FANRR) 21, United States Department of Agriculture, March 2002
(2). Tufts University School of Nutrition -- Center on Hunger, Poverty & Nutrition Policy, March 1995
(3). America’s Second Harvest, Local Impact Survey
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Maybe you don't think it's a big deal that 20+ million people in this country have to worry with some frequency about getting food, but in a country where we pay people NOT to grow food because we have so much, it's unconscionable. And if you want to look at it purely from a public health perspective, it's a costly problem that DOES EXIST and needs to be remedied.
I happen to see hungry people frequently. Some of them have been laid off and have to choose between food and rent. Some of them work low-wage jobs and don't qualify for food stamps. Some of them are elderly and have to choose between prescriptions and food. It does exist, regardless of poorly-worded surveys.
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"If ten million people believe a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing."
- Anatole France
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