Source: U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service,Household Food Security in the United States, 1995-1998: Advance Report; July 1999and Important User Information/ERRATA Tables 1 & 2D inHousehold Food Security in The United States 1995-1998Advance Report; September 1999.

http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns/

The Federal food security measure was developed through a collaborative process between private non-government experts,academic researchers, and a Federal interagency working group, with leadership from theDepartment of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services. The severity offood insecurity and hunger in households is measured through a series of questions aboutexperiences and behaviors known to characterize households that are having difficulty meeting basic food needs. These experiences and behaviors generally occur in an ordered sequenceas the severity of food insecurity increases. As resources become more constrained, adults intypical households first worry about having enough food, then they stretch household resources and juggle other necessities, thendecrease the quality and variety of household members diets, then decrease the frequency and quantity of adults food intake, and finally decrease the frequency and quantity of childrens food intake. All questions refer to the previous 12 months and include a qualifying phrasereminding respondents to report only those occurrences that resulted from inadequate financialresources. Restrictions to food intake due to dieting or busy schedules are excluded.