Hunger

Survey of Food Insecurity on Thirty-Four Campuses
The U.S. Department of Agriculture measures food security along a
scale from “high food security” to “very low food security,” with three
categories to indicate levels of food insecurity.
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“Moderate food security” describes households with some level
of concern or challenge in accessing quality food without significant
decreases in quality, variety, or quantity.
“Low food security” describes households where quality, variety,
and desirability are negatively impacted, but quantity is not.
“Very low food security” indicates decreases in all areas (quality,
variety, desirability, quantity) as well as disrupted eating patterns due
to inability to access adequate food. 15
The survey assessed the food security level of the respondents using the
questions provided in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Adult Food
Security Survey Module. 16 Based on their responses to these questions,
respondents were given a score of zero through ten. Their food security
status was then determined based on their score:
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Score of zero – High food security
Score of 1-2 – Marginal food security
Score of 3-5 – Low food security
Score of 6-10 – Very low food security
Students with a score of three or more were considered “food insecure.”
Students with a score of six or more were considered to be “very food
insecure” and likely to be suffering from hunger.
15 U.S. Department of Agriculture, “Definitions of Food Insecurity,” September 8, 2015, http://
www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/definitions-of-foodsecurity.aspx.
16 U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, “U.S. Adult Food Security Survey
Module: Three-Stage Design, With Screeners,” September 2012, http://www.ers.usda.gov/
datafiles/Food_Security_in_the_United_States/Food_Security_Survey_Modules/ad2012.pdf.
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