Hunger Explained

We can end hunger in our lifetime.

Hunger affects hundreds of millions of people around the world. It’s one of the world’s most urgent but solvable issues.

Hunger happens when people do not have enough food to eat. There are many misconceptions about why people don’t have access to food, who experiences hunger, and how to end hunger. Here are a few common myths and the facts that dispel them.

Myths

Most Common Myths about Hunger

Myth: Hunger is not having enough food.

Fact: The cause of hunger in the world is not a shortage of food but rather access to food – especially nutritious food. Addressing hunger is more than just giving people enough calories.

Myth: Food banks are the best and only way to end hunger.

Fact: Federal nutrition programs provide roughly 10 times as much food assistance as private churches and charities combined. That’s why ending hunger requires the collective efforts of churches, charities, food banks, and federal programs.

Myth: Hunger in the U.S. happens mostly to able-bodied people who refuse to work or help themselves.

Fact: For developed countries like the U.S., hunger doesn’t come from not having enough food available. Instead, those facing poverty often experience “hidden hunger,” meaning even if they are getting enough quantity of food, the quality of food – vitamins and minerals – is lacking.

And many working people struggling with poverty are unable to earn a living wage and don’t have enough money left to buy food at the end of the month. About 13.5 percent of U.S. households — 47.4 million people – including 13.8 million children— struggle to put food on the table.

Why We’re Motivated to End Hunger

The proof is the amazing progress the world has made in just the past two generations. In 1960, 1 in 3 people was hungry. Today, chronic hunger affects 1 in every 11 people – more than 733 million people worldwide.

But hunger is still a huge problem. Picture all the people in the United States and the European Union – almost that many people around the world don’t have enough to eat.