New data shows food insecurity continues to rise in Texas

New research released from Feeding America, the national network of food banks building lasting solutions to end hunger, reveals food insecurity continues to rise across Texas. The findings are part of the 2026 Map the Meal Gap study featuring 2024 data, which is the only comprehensive, county-level study of food insecurity and food costs in the U.S.

Food insecurity means a household lacks enough money or resources to reliably access adequate food. It’s not just families who pay the price, it’s Texas too: worse health, kids falling behind in school, and higher costs down the road for our healthcare system and economy.

Today, 19.4% of Texans, or nearly 1 in 5 people, are experiencing food insecurity, up from 17.6%, or 1 in 6 Texans, in last year’s report. Texas continues to have the largest food insecure population in the nation, with 6,062,890 Texans facing food insecurity.

“This year’s Map the Meal Gap data underscores the reality that food insecurity continues to affect our neighbors across every demographic and geography in Texas, disproportionately impacting vulnerable populations, including children and seniors,” said Celia Cole, CEO of Feeding Texas. “While we continue growing our work to get nutritious food to families, this report reinforces the urgent need for strong public policy, community support, and partnerships that protect and increase food access for Texans.”

Statewide findings from the 2026 report also highlight the growing severity of food insecurity across Texas:

• 1 in 4 Texas children are experiencing food insecurity, representing 26.1%, or 1,995,810 children, an increase from 22.2% last year.
• 1 in 7 Texas seniors are experiencing food insecurity, increasing from 13.6% to 15.1%.
• Food insecurity among White, non-Hispanic Texans increased from 11% to 12%, meaning 1 in 8 are now experiencing food insecurity.
• Food insecurity among Black Texans increased from 31% to 34%, meaning 1 in 3 Black Texans are experiencing food insecurity.

The Map the Meal Gap study also reveals a significant portion of individuals experiencing food insecurity may not qualify for federal nutrition assistance programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Across the country, more than half of those struggling with food insecurity fall above the SNAP eligibility threshold, meaning many families must rely on local food banks and community meal programs to get by.

These findings are echoed by recent 211 Texas data from United Ways of Texas. From February to June 2026, calls to 211 seeking food assistance increased 28.6%, while referrals to food banks and food pantries rose nearly 37%, from 4,230 to 5,785 referrals. Among those seeking food assistance between January and June 2026, 43% were adults age 50 and older. During the same period, requests for home-delivered meals increased about 23%, growing from 510 to 629 requests.

Additionally, new provisions in HR 1, known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” shift certain program costs to states and tie significant new financial obligations to SNAP payment error rates—a statistical measure of how accurately SNAP benefits are calculated by Texas Health and Human Services.

Beginning October 1, 2027, states with payment error rates above 6% must share between 5-15% of SNAP benefit costs. Texas’ payment error rate for fiscal year 2025 is 9.34%, meaning the state could face up to $709 million per year in benefit costs beginning in fiscal year 2028. If states are unable to take on this new financial burden, it could put their participation in SNAP at risk, threatening SNAP benefits for millions of working families, children, seniors and veterans. 

Notably, states with exceptionally high payment error rates (above 13.34% in FY25), including Alaska and Georgia, have already been granted a two-year extension to meet the new requirements. 

Texas food banks currently distribute more than 700 million pounds of food annually through a network of more than 5,000 community partners, yet for every meal provided by food banks, SNAP provides nine. SNAP remains the nation’s most effective anti-hunger program and plays a vital role in supporting local grocers, retailers and agricultural producers across the state. Millions of households rely on SNAP at some point during the year to help stretch their grocery budgets.

“We’re calling on Congress to postpone the cost-share requirement for two years so every state has adequate time to implement these improvements before being subjected to significant financial penalties,” Cole said. “Our priority should be ensuring the policy is implemented effectively while safeguarding eligible families’ access to food assistance.”

For more information about Feeding Texas and its statewide network of food banks, visit feedingtexas.org. Individuals can also visit Feeding Texas’ Action Form to contact members of Congress regarding the proposed SNAP cost share delay.

About Feeding Texas
Feeding Texas is a statewide network of food banks leading a unified effort to end hunger in Texas. Its goal is to ensure access to adequate, nutritious food for all Texans, improve the health and financial stability of the communities they serve, and engage all stakeholders in advocating for hunger solutions. Learn more at FeedingTexas.org.   

Feeding America Study Shows More East Texas Children Are Going Hungry

New Map the Meal Gap data reveals 1 in 4 children in East Texas faces food insecurity

 

TYLER, Texas — More children across East Texas are experiencing food insecurity, according to new data released today by Feeding America through its annual Map the Meal Gap study.

The latest findings show that 83,090 children in the East Texas Food Bank’s 26-county service area experienced food insecurity in 2024, an increase of nearly 3,000 children from the previous year. The data means 1 in 4 East Texas children do not have consistent access to enough nutritious food.

In 2023, an estimated 80,250 children in East Texas were food insecure. The updated study, based on 2024 data, highlights a growing challenge for families already struggling with rising costs and economic uncertainty.

The counties with the highest child food insecurity rates in the East Texas Food Bank’s service area are:

• Marion County – 38%
• St. Augustine County – 37%
• Shelby County – 32%
• Angelina County – 31%
• Red River County – 31%

Several of East Texas’ largest counties also continue to experience significant child food insecurity:

• Bowie County – 28%
• Gregg County – 28%
• Smith County – 24%

“No child should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from,” said David Emerson, CEO of the East Texas Food Bank. “Yet thousands of children across East Texas may go to bed hungry or without the nutrition they need to grow, learn, and thrive. Through programs like Summer Feeding, the BackPack Program, our network of partner pantries, resource centers, and produce distributions, we’re working every day to meet that need—but these new numbers show there is still much more work to do.”

While child food insecurity increased, the report found a slight improvement among adults. The adult food insecurity rate in East Texas declined from 18.2% to 17.9%, improving from approximately 1 in 5 adults to 1 in 6 adults experiencing food insecurity.

The East Texas Food Bank is one of more than 200-member food banks in Feeding America’s nationwide network. Map the Meal Gap is the only study that provides local-level estimates of food insecurity and food costs for every county and congressional district in the United States.

“Food insecurity isn’t a problem happening somewhere else, it’s affecting families in every community across East Texas,” Emerson said. “Hunger remains especially severe in many rural areas, where unemployment, rising living costs, transportation barriers, and health challenges make it even harder for families to put food on the table. These findings remind us that it takes all of us—neighbors, businesses, community organizations, and policymakers—working together to create a future where everyone has access to nutritious food.”

The Map the Meal Gap study is supported by Conagra Brands Foundation, Enterprise Mobility Foundation and NielsenIQ/NIQ.

Methodology:

Map the Meal Gap uses publicly available data from the USDA Economic Research Service, U.S. Census Bureau, and Bureau of Labor Statistics to estimate local food insecurity at the county, congressional district, and state levels. The study also estimates local meal costs and food budget shortfalls using food price data from NIQ based on the USDA Thrifty Food Plan, and grocery sales tax data for every county and state in the country.

To learn how food insecurity impacts your community, visit EastTexasFoodBank.org and click on Map the Meal Gap.

East Texas Food Bank Plans Free Summer Food Program

The East Texas Food Bank (ETFB) kicks off the free Summer Food Program for children on Tuesday, June 2, at 43 East Texas locations with a special event at the Glass Recreation Center in Tyler from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. featuring food, activities and more. The PepsiCo Foundation’s Food for Good sponsors the event.

“It’s so important to make sure children do not go hungry in the summer just because school is out,” said David Emerson, CEO of the East Texas Food Bank. “Here in East Texas, 1 in 4 children are food insecure so it’s up to our community to make sure we fill that meal gap when the school year ends and kids lose access to free and reduced-price meals they depend on.”

Food for Good is helping transform food access in rural and underserved communities by using PepsiCo’s logistical expertise to deliver nutritious meals year-round. This summer, its partnership with the ETFB will help ensure children do not go hungry when school is out—tackling geographic, financial, and systemic barriers to food access.

“Summer hunger is one of the most urgent yet solvable challenges we face,” said Andrea Moribe, Director of Food for Good, PepsiCo Foundation. “Our collaboration with the ETFB is a powerful example of how public-private partnerships can bridge access gaps and deliver real solutions to families when they need them most.”

This summer, ETFB expects to serve 100,000 meals to over 4,500 children. Meals are provided at various community sites Monday-Friday. There is no need to register. The program is for children 18 and younger.

Besides the meal, some of the locations at parks, churches and libraries offer other free activities for children. Check with the Summer Food Program you plan to visit for more information.

For the full list of locations and serving times visit EastTexasFoodBank.org/SummerFood or by calling 903-597-3663.