Large Numbers of California College Students Go Hungry

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A new survey determined that four out of every 10 University of California system students do not have a consistent source of high-quality, nutritious food. Nearly 9,000 students were surveyed in what is believed to be the largest look ever at campus food security. The survey also determined that 19% of students “went hungry at times” and 23% were able to eat, but lacked regular access to a “good-quality, varied, and nutritious diet.”

In conjunction with the release, University President Janet Napolitano announced a $3.3 million effort to expand the campuses’ fight against student malnutrition. Each campus in the University of California system will receive $151,000, adding to the $75,000 the campuses received last year. The effort will go toward building what school officials are calling “the nation’s most comprehensive, systematic plan” to deal with the problem.

The report based on the survey results determined that 14% of all households in California and 19% with children reported experiencing food insecurity. Households that reported having food insecurity are more likely than those that are food secure to be near or below the federally designated poverty line; they are also more likely to be single-parent households and/or be Latino or Black households.

“Food security is a critical issue not only on college campuses, but throughout our country and the world,” Napolitano said in a statement. “We undertook this survey, and are acting on its findings, because the university is serious about addressing real, long-term solutions to improve the well-being of our students.”

According to a 2014 report by Feeding America, 3 million college students lacked regular access to nutritious food. Across the 10 campus California State University system, 57% reported experiencing problems finding sufficient or healthy food the first time they were at college. Some of the efforts the system launched as a way to combat the problem include cooking classes and food pantries.

“Food pantries are emergency support, but they do not solve the problem of hunger and malnourishment among our students,” said Ruben Canedo, who serves on UC food security committees. “Our commitment is not just to name the challenge but to create an institutional model that does something about it.”

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