Food Insecurity and Nutrition Insecurity in Los Angeles County

Food insecurity continues to be a significant issue across Los Angeles County, impacting a substantial portion of the population. Recent research from USC Dornsife indicates that in 2025, one in four households experienced food insecurity – a situation where individuals may need to skip meals or are uncertain about their next source of food.

A Shifting Landscape of Need

Historically, food insecurity has disproportionately affected lower-income households. The USC Dornsife study offers some encouraging news, showing a decline in food insecurity within this group, from 41% to 35% in 2025. This improvement is linked to local investments in food access, nutrition programs, and better coordination within the food system. Simultaneously, nutrition insecurity – defined as a lack of consistent access to healthy, safe, and culturally appropriate food – also decreased countywide, falling from 29% to 21%.

The Rise of Food Insecurity Among Working Families

Despite these positive trends, the research reveals a concerning shift in who is experiencing food insecurity. A growing number of individuals struggling to afford food are now from higher-income brackets, often employed and part of working families. These households frequently earn above the income thresholds for programs like CalFresh, yet are still impacted by the extraordinarily high cost of living in Los Angeles County.

Did You Know? Nearly half of CalFresh participants in Los Angeles County reported experiencing food insecurity in 2025.

Expenses such as housing, childcare, healthcare, and transportation are leaving many families with insufficient funds for groceries, leading to food insecurity for the first time.

Challenges Remain for Those Receiving Assistance

The study also highlights that current assistance programs are not always enough. Even among those receiving CalFresh benefits, nearly half reported experiencing food insecurity in 2025. This underscores the inadequacy of current benefit levels in meeting the rising costs of food and living, a situation that could be exacerbated by anticipated federal cuts to food assistance programs in 2026.

Expert Insight: The data suggests that addressing food insecurity requires a multi-faceted approach, going beyond traditional safety nets to account for the economic pressures faced by a broader range of households in Los Angeles County.

The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank plays a vital role in bridging these gaps. The organization collaborates with hundreds of partner agencies throughout the county to provide nutritious food, promote nutrition security, and respond to emergencies like wildfires and public health crises. The Food Bank focuses on reaching families who fall outside the scope of traditional assistance programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does food insecurity mean?

Food insecurity means that at some point during the month, people may need to skip meals or are unsure where their next meal will come from.

What is nutrition insecurity?

Nutrition insecurity is the lack of consistent access to healthy, safe, and culturally appropriate food.

What role does the LA Regional Food Bank play?

The LA Regional Food Bank collaborates with hundreds of partner agencies to provide nutritious food, promote nutrition security, and respond to disasters.

As Los Angeles County continues to grapple with these challenges, sustained investment, coordinated action, and strong community support will be essential.