Roanoke Times Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc. DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 16, 1993 TAG: 9306160053 SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-5 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY SOURCE: Associated Press DATELINE: BOSTON LENGTH: Medium
The study from the Center on Hunger, Poverty and Nutrition Policy at Tufts University estimated that 18 percent of U.S. children under age 18 experienced hunger in 1991.
Mississippi had the highest rate at 34 percent. Louisiana, West Virginia, Arkansas, Kentucky, Alabama and Texas placed in the top 10. Virginia ranked 39th, with 13.3 percent of children experiencing hunger.
The report's authors said child hunger is a problem not just in the South, which historically has been burdened with high poverty. New York, California, South Dakota, New Mexico and Michigan had child hunger rates above 18 percent.
"It borders on unbelievable," said J. Larry Brown, director of the center. He said the numbers are likely even higher now since the recession has pushed more families into financial distress.
Brown was scheduled to discuss his findings Thursday in Washington at a National Hunger Forum convened by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Espy. His agency oversees food programs for the poor. Espy said the administration is committed to reforming nutrition programs to better reach needy families.
The latest child hunger estimates are evidence of an "ongoing tragedy," Espy said in a statement. "There can be no doubt that we can and we must do better."
The Tufts report follows other attempts to gauge hunger among children. The Food Research and Action Center, an advocacy group in Washington, estimates about 5 million children under age 12 go hungry each month.
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.