Uncovering Additional Threats to Food Security Data: Why the “Redundancy” Claim Doesn’t Hold Up
by Melanie Klein, Beth Jarosz, Ronette Briefel, and Gina Plata-Nino
In late September, USDA terminated the Food Security Supplement (FSS) to the Current Population Survey (CPS), calling it “redundant” and “extraneous.” Since we began debunking those claims in a blog post, Forsaking Food Security, and in our Rapid Response Data Briefing, additional information has surfaced that further challenges USDA’s rationale.
While USDA claims it will rely on “more timely and accurate data sets,” our review found that none of the national surveys that collect food security data using USDA food security survey modules are capable of replacing the CPS-FSS. The CPS-FSS is unique because it is collected annually, is nationally representative, has a large sample size, provides robust prevalence and state-level estimates, uses the full 18-item food security questionnaire, and captures adult and child experiences.
USDA even acknowledged this in its latest Information Collection Request. Approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in April, the agency wrote that these related surveys “do not provide suitable data for timely and reliable monitoring of the prevalence and severity of food insecurity in the Nation’s households and in critical subpopulations.”
Most glaringly, about half of these surveys are now defunct. While historical data are important, one ended so long ago (2002) that it’s far too outdated to offer timely insights. Of those with a newer vintage, they have significant data gaps such as excluding children’s experiences or being unable to produce state-level estimates. These limitations make clear just how misplaced USDA’s claims of “redundancy” are, as we detail the limitations below.
Perhaps most concerning, USDA and other agencies have quietly been terminating the more current food security modules as well. Working in collaboration with colleagues at IPUMS, we discovered that food security questions appear to have been pulled from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). A January 2025 version of the survey overview included them, but a July 2025 version “indicates that food security questions are only collected for selected years (2019-2024).” We have also heard that data collection through the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) may be at risk.
It is important to note that while none of the surveys listed below can replace the CPS-FSS, the CPS-FSS cannot replace these supplementary data collections either. The food security modules in these surveys are additive, not duplicative. For example, including food security questions alongside those on health, housing, and education can help uncover how access to food intersects with well-being, living situations, and learning outcomes.
Finally, debates about whether survey questions (like those on food security) are the “right” ones are healthy and necessary. A robust data system invites scrutiny to ensure we collect the best information possible. But one principle is clear and undebatable: you don’t demolish the house before designing and evaluating new plans. Updates to any data collection should be informed by policymaker and community needs, supported by rigorous testing, and piloted alongside existing systems so everyone understands what’s gained (or what might be lost) in a change.
Capturing this data is more critical now than ever, as food insecurity continues to rise due to recent policy decisions. History reminds us why this matters: during the Reagan administration, senior officials denied the existence of hunger in America, claiming there was no food security crisis because no scientific data proved otherwise. This history underscores the danger of eliminating reliable data sources. Without independent, scientifically grounded measures, policymakers can downplay or dismiss growing hardship. Maintaining robust, nonpartisan data collection ensures that future administrations can accurately assess the impact of their policies on households, measure progress, and uphold accountability.
Take Action
If this blog resonates with you, submit a comment by Tuesday, November 3, advocating to reinstate the Food Security Supplement and dataindex.us will send it to your state’s Department of Agriculture.
For additional reading on sources of food security data, read Measuring Food Security with U.S. Federal Data from our colleagues at IPUMS.
No other survey provides the same timely insights as the CPS-FSS for the nation, states, and critical population subgroups.
No current data: Only included food security modules in 2015, 2019, and 2021.
No annual data: Historically biennial, not continuous until 2026.
Limited coverage: Uses the 10-item adult module which excludes specific questions about children’s food security experiences.
Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey, Birth Cohort of 2001 (ECLS-B)
No current data: The final wave of data collection was in 2007. Food security information was collected in parent surveys in select waves.
Limited coverage: Collected only for households with children in select waves.
Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey, Kindergarten Class of 1998-99 (ECLS-K)
No current data: The final wave of data collection was in 2007.
Limited coverage: Collected only for households with children in select waves.
Early Childhood Longitudinal Survey, Kindergarten Class of 2010–11 (ECLS-K:2011)
No current data: The final wave of data collection was in 2016.
Limited coverage: Collected only for households with children in select waves. Some waves included the 10-item adult module which excludes specific questions about children’s food security experiences.
Household Pulse Survey (HPS) and Household Trends and Outlook Pulse Survey (HTOPS)
No current data: Ended in 2024. While being replaced by HTOPS, which hasn’t published data yet, it has concerns about the representativeness of the sample and will be nation-level only.
Limited coverage: May not have always been representative of the population due to the fielding method. Can’t be used for state-level analysis.
Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS)
Limited coverage: Uses the 10-item adult module which excludes specific questions about children’s food security experiences. Has a significantly smaller sample size than the CPS-FSS.
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)
No annual data: Data are released only every two years.
Limited coverage: Has a significantly smaller annual sample size than the CPS-FSS. Can’t be used for state-level analysis.
National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)
Limited coverage: Uses the 10-item adult module which excludes specific questions about children’s food security experiences. State identifiers are not available in publicly released data.
National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey (FoodAPS), also referred to as National Household Food Study (NHFS)
No current data: Only published data are from the 2012 to 2013 survey. In August 2024, field testing (planned for 2025) for a new iteration was approved, but the status of any full-scale implementation in 2027 is unknown.
Limited coverage: Uses the 10-item adult module which excludes specific questions about children’s food experiences. Significantly smaller sample size than the CPS-FSS.
National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH)
Limited coverage: Only includes one item on food insufficiency. Collected only for households with children.
Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) Food Security Files
No annual data: Questions are not included annually nor regularly.
Limited coverage: Future data collections are longitudinal and can’t be used for cross-sectional population estimates.
Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP)
No annual data: Only conducted every several years.
Limited coverage: Uses the 6-item short-form module which excludes children and the most severe levels of food insecurity.
Survey of Program Dynamics (SPD)
No current data: The final data collection was in 2002.
Melanie Klein is a contributor at dataindex.us.
Beth Jarosz is a contributor at dataindex.us and Vice President of the Association of Public Data Users.
Ronette Briefel is a Senior Research Consultant.
Gina Plata-Nino is the Interim SNAP Director at the Food Research & Action Center.