{"id":390954,"date":"2026-07-29T19:08:14","date_gmt":"2026-07-29T19:08:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/390954\/"},"modified":"2026-07-29T19:08:14","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T19:08:14","slug":"study-texas-is-nations-most-food-insecure-state","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/390954\/","title":{"rendered":"Study: Texas is nation’s most food insecure state"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"For the third year in a row, Texas has been named the most food-insecure U.S. state. Credit: Instagram \/ San Antonio Food Bank<\/p>\n

New data released Tuesday by hunger-fighting coalition Feeding America shows Texas is the nation\u2019s most food-insecure state, and that the percentage of hungry people in San Antonio is higher than the state average.<\/p>\n

Beyond that, the report also shows the problem is getting worse statewide. <\/p>\n

Nearly 6.1 million people face hunger in Texas, according to Feeding America\u2019s latest Map the Meal Gap study<\/a>. That\u2019s 19.4% of the state\u2019s population \u2014 or one in five Texans. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhile we continue to grow our work to get nutritious meals to families, the need to increase food access for our neighbors has become even more urgent,\u201d Eric Cooper, President and CEO of the San Antonio Food Bank, said in a statement. \u201cFood insecurity affects our neighbors across every demographic and geography, especially vulnerable groups like children and seniors.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Feeding America report reflects 2024 data drawn from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This is the third year that Texas has beaten California for being the most food-insecure U.S. state.<\/p>\n

Rather than bouncing back from pandemic-era highs, the study indicates that hunger is growing in the Lone Star State. Texas\u2019 food insecure population is up 17.6% from 5.4 million the year before.<\/p>\n

In San Antonio, 21.3% of the population \u2014 or a larger percentage than the state average \u2014 experiences food insecurity.\u00a0Data also shows that more than one in four San Antonio children experience hunger.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0food-insecure population\u00a0in the San Antonio area grew to\u00a0629,590 people in 2024, including\u00a0188,600 children.<\/p>\n

Black San Antonians continue to be hit hardest by food insecurity, with one in three experiencing it, and the population\u2019s food insecurity rate jumping from 30% to 32% over the study period. Food insecurity among\u00a0San Antonio Latinos has remained at\u00a025%. <\/p>\n

Although the Alamo City\u2019s white residents remain the least food-insecure population, the percentage affected still increased from 11% to 12% from 2023 to 2024. <\/p>\n

Texas seniors also experienced a rise in food insecurity during the study period. The percentage of hungry seniors grew from\u00a013.6% to 15.1%.<\/p>\n

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