How Do American's Perceive HUNGER?

How Do American's Perceive HUNGER?
A survey revealing perceptions on hunger is part of a new awareness campaign involving Tyson Foods.

A quarter of all Americans are worried that they won't be able to afford food sometime in the next year, according to a survey that also shows more than one-third of adults know someone who has gone hungry in the past year.

Sponsored by Tyson Foods and the Food Research and Action Center, the extensive survey measured the depth of the hunger problem in America, along with people's perceptions about a range of associated issues.

At a news conference, John Tyson, the chairman of the Arkansas-based company, said the survey was meant to raise awareness and mobilize efforts to feed people.

The company has donated 78 million pounds of boneless chicken breasts in the past 10 years, Tyson said, and plans to donate 1 million more pounds this month, with 29,000 pounds of it going to the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma.

But Tyson said the company's donations were a temporary fix. What was needed, he said, was to remove hunger from the category of “out of sight, out of mind.”

For many, it is apparently in that category: Two-thirds of Americans think it's a bigger problem nationwide than it is in their own communities.

Still, perhaps because of the deep and lengthy recession, there is widespread recognition of hunger: Sixty-five percent of those polled said they believed hunger was a serious problem, consistent among urban, suburban and rural residents.

Other results

Other results from the survey, which will be used as part of a new public service campaign called Know Hunger:

• Minorities are more concerned than whites that they won't be able to afford food in the next year, but one in five white respondents said they were worried about it.

• Far more women (74 percent) than men (56 percent) believe hunger is a serious national problem.

• 75 percent of those polled think it's difficult for low-income people to afford nutritious foods.

• 91 percent feel that no one should go hungry in America (80 percent strongly agree with that principle).

• Large majorities believe local food banks and charities and federal government programs such as school lunches and food stamps are effective.