1 in 10 Americans Go To Bed Hungry

AUSTIN, Minn.One out of every 10 Americans has gone to bed hungry at least once this past year, and one in four Americans has been forced to make choose between buying food and paying their bills in the last year, according to sobering results of the 2010 Hormel Hunger survey.

The percentage who said they are very concerned about the number of Americans who do not have enough to eat rose to 46 percent from 38 percent one year ago. Approximately 65 percent donated to a food charity, and 61 percent of those surveyed do not think the hunger problem in the United States will be solved in the next 20 years.

"It is a tragedy that people around the world and in our country still suffer from hunger," said Julie H. Craven, vice president of corporate communications at Hormel Foods. "We hope this survey provides facts about hunger and makes clear that it is still a problem both in the United States and abroad."

According to the findings of the fifth annual study on hunger, 52 percent of Americans said their ability to pay their bills has not changed in the past year; however, five times as many Americans say it has become more difficult to pay bills (38 percent) than said it has become easier (8 percent) compared to a year ago.

A majority of Americans said large grocery stores with more fresh food options would benefit areas that only have small stores with limited choices. More fresh food options would help reduce malnutrition, hunger, obesity and healthcare costs while increasing life expectancy and school test scores.

According to USDA, 2.3 million Americans live more than a mile from a supermarket that offers many food choices and do not have access to a vehicle to get there.