Nearly 13% of U.S. families struggled to put food on the table that year, according to the USDA — 5 million more households than the year before.

The poorest Americans spend the largest share of their paychecks on food at home.

The agency wants to help more school districts cover the costs of universal free meals.

In many countries, including Egypt, staples like bread have become much more expensive and harder to come by.

People who struggle to afford food have 20% higher health care costs than those who don’t, partly the result of a cheaper, less healthy diet, a study finds.

Donations of both money and food are down. That’s straining food banks at a time when more people are relying on them again.

Inflation, supply chain problems and wealth disparities remain barriers to solving hunger, says Claire Babineaux-Fontenot of Feeding America.

“There was a convenience shop owner nearby me who ate nothing but instant noodles for weeks,” says Marketplace’s Jennifer Pak.

The program is expected to provide a large benefits increase in 2023. Until then, many on fixed incomes have to tighten their budgets.

Higher food prices and the loss of pandemic-era supports mean that not only are more families using food banks, they’re visiting them more often, advocates say.