The Economic Cost of Domestic Hunger

By Bill Shore | June 11, 2007

Last week the Sodexho Foundation released a report it had commissioned on the economic costs of hunger in the United States.

The words of Sodexho Foundation president Steve Brady, from the Foreward to the report, are worth sharing here: "Only several decades ago, there were millions of people in America suffering from severe nutrition, some bordering on starvation. Thankfully, our nation mobilized resources and support to greatly reduce this tragedy. Today many people believe hunger is no longer an issue in this country. However the reality is that in virtually every community there are people who are impoverished and in need, whether they are the working poor, the elderly, or families with children."

"If we look closely, the face of hunger is all around us, affecting more than 35 million of our fellow citizens. They are not starving, but they do not have the certainty of knowing where, when or how they will eat their next meal. Many are forced to choose between the daily necessities of life such as paying rent, having adequate health care, or buying food.

The mission of the Sodexho Foundation is to be a driving and creative force that contributes to a hunger-free nation. It is for this reason that we commissioned this groundbreaking research project, "The Economic Cost of Domestic Hunger." We believe hunger is a solvable problem and are working to raise the consciousness and political will of the American people to once again rise to meet the challenge to end it in our country. Hunger in America has a cost far beyond the human suffering. As this research outlines, the cost to our country is more than $90 billion, far more than it would take to ensure that no citizen is at risk of hunger. Admittedly, there is more to ending hunger than providing food for those in need. We have a responsibility to address hunger’s root causes; to provide employable skills, affordable health care; and affordable housing among many others.

While people may differ on various policy proposals, none would disagree that hunger has no place in our vibrant democracy. We hope that this landmark study will help the nation engage in a more public dialogue about the issue of the true cost of hunger in our midst, and the concrete and measurable steps we can take to make America a hunger-free nation."