-Caveat Lector- 10 Percent of U.S. Households Hungry By PHILIP BRASHER .c The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) - Nearly 10 percent of U.S. households are going hungry or don't have consistent access to adequate food, the Agriculture Department said Thursday. In New Mexico, 15.1 percent of households were either hungry or threatened with hunger from 1996 to 1998, according to a USDA study. Mississippi, Texas, Arizona, Louisiana, Arkansas and Oregon had rates of 12.6 percent or higher. Overall, hunger hit at least 10 percent of the households in 18 states, USDA said. ``During this, the most prosperous economy in decades, it should shock most Americans to learn that hunger persists and it is in every state,'' Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman said. ``The problem of hunger amid America's plenty cannot and will not be ignored.'' North Dakota had by far the smallest share of households that are short of food at 4.6 percent. Four other states - Massachusetts, South Dakota, Delaware and Minnesota - had rates below 7 percent. Nationally, 9.7 percent of households were considered ``food insecure'' during the three-year period, according to USDA, which based its conclusions on annual household surveys conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. The study's results generally tracked poverty rates, but there were a few states, including Washington, Oregon and New Hampshire, where the incidence of hunger was higher. USDA officials said it was possible for a family to be living above the poverty line and still go through periods during the year when they were short of food. Local costs of living have an impact on hunger, they said, as well as family support and the availability of community nutrition programs. There also were states with high hunger rates where use of food stamps was relatively low. Nationwide, participation in food stamp program has fallen by 27 percent since 1995. While the drop is due largely to the strong economy and changes in eligibility requirements, demand has grown for food aid from other programs and nonprofit organizations. Glickman was releasing the study Thursday in Chicago at a national conference of food-assistance groups. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
