Yesterday, the American Dietetic Association updated its position on food insecurity, calling for increased funding and education efforts to promote “self-sufficiency” in all households.  In the same paper, the ADA reported that 49 million Americans experienced food insecurity in 2008.

The updated position follows:

It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that systematic and sustained action is needed to achieve food and nutrition security for all in the United States. To eliminate food insecurity, interventions are needed, including adequate funding for and increased utilization of food and nutrition assistance programs, inclusion of food and nutrition education in such programs, and innovative programs to promote and support individual and household economic self-sufficiency.

The full position paper can be found in the September issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.