According to a recent USDA report on food insecurity, 19.5 percent of Hispanic households report suffering from hunger (food insecurity), a disproportionate number when compared to the national average of 10.9 percent, and the non-Hispanic white average of 7.8 percent.
The percentage means that nearly one in five Hispanic households, in one of the richest countries in the world, suffers from hunger. Only half of eligible Hispanic residents (51 percent) receive SNAP/Food Stamps, according to a National Council of La Raza (NCLR) report from December 2006 titled Sin Provecho: Latinos and Food Insecurity.
The report also found that there are 38 percent fewer fresh fruit and vegetable retailers in Hispanic communities than there are in communities with smaller Hispanic populations.
The NCLR report indicated that people who participate in food assistance programs have greater nutritional intake, save money on medical bills, are healthier, and have a lower rate of obesity.
Source: Ponte Al Dia/Latin News and Opinion, July 10, 2009
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