Nearly one in five Arkansas households lacked consistent access to adequate food between 2022 and 2024, keeping the state at the top of national food insecurity rankings, according to a federal report released this week.
The Household Food Security in the United States report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that Arkansas families continue to face the highest rate of food insecurity in the nation, struggling with limited financial resources and restricted physical access to food.
“These numbers represent real families—parents skipping meals so their children can eat, seniors choosing between groceries and medication, and working households struggling to make ends meet,” said Sylvia Blain with Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance, according to Memphis television outlet WREG. “No state should hold this ranking year after year.”
The three-year average shows Arkansas has maintained its position as the state with the highest food insecurity rate, a distinction advocacy groups say demands urgent attention.
While federal nutrition programs provide some relief in reducing hunger, Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance officials said improved food access remains critical for families across the state, WREG reports.
Food insecurity occurs when households cannot consistently obtain adequate food due to insufficient money or other resources, according to the USDA.
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