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Gobsmacked by groceries, Inflation inching higher for Washington consumers weary at the market
February 16, 2025 | The Spokesman Review
The Spokesman Review highlights both the national trends of food costs, as well as Washington state trends, pointing to a report released in February from the Washington State Food Security Surveys, showing that state residents continue to worry about food prices.
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UW, WSU study shows WA residents struggling to pay for one particular monthly expense
February 17, 2025 | The Bellingham Herald
This article by the Bellingham Herald highlights findings from the fifth edition of the Washington State Food Security Survey released on Feb. 13, revealing a potential rise in food insecurity in Washington.
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Grocery prices are a top financial worry, WA residents say
February 19, 2025 | The Seattle Times
The Seattle Times looks at the growing high cost of food for Washington households, citing a state-wide survey conducted by UW Food Systems researchers called WAFOOD. FSNH faculty member Marie Spiker is quoted, “Of all the indicators that we have of how are households doing financially, food insecurity is a really important one, because it has these close ties to human health.”
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Mayor Harrell Releases Updated “Food Action Plan” to Guide City Policies and Programs, Increase Food Security in Seattle
September 5, 2024 | City of Seattle
Yona Sipos, core faculty in the Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health program is quoted in this recent post by the City of Seattle Mayor’s office, remarking, “The recently updated plan provides an impressive vision of how we can all pursue equity, sustainability, and resilience for our City and region. Food and food systems can truly act as unifying themes for communities, and the Plan’s level of detail provides clear goals and strategies to connect, learn, and contribute positively — which many of us at the University of Washington anticipate doing with students across the Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health program, among others.”
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How WA food banks are handling a hunger cliff
March 8, 2023 | KUOW
The state of food insecurity in Washington state, as changes in federal law that will end $95 million a month in food assistance. Recently published new data from a UW and WSU survey highlights that food insecurity was highest in households made up of people of color, families with children, and among renters.
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Fund food insecurity response in WA — and demand national fix
March 6, 2023 | Seattle Times
Editorial featured in Seattle Times highlights legislative House bill 1784 which provides aencies charged with making sure those who are food insecure are asking the state for an emergency infusion of $28 million to help increase inventories at food banks and other agencies purchasing food and supplies, help manage storage facilities, food delivery and logistics, and maintain outreach to those who may not have access or know about such services.
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Survey shows food insecurity remains high in Washington state
March 8, 2023 | KOMO News
UW associate professor Jennifer Otten was interviewed in this video and article from KOMO News about the recent results from the WAFOOD survey the impacts on low income households, particularly those with children. How Washingtonians are copying with food and fuel costs is highlighted.
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Food insecurity remains high in Spokane and statewide, UW-WSU survey shows
March 5, 2023 | The Spokesman-Review
Dr. Marie Spiker is quoted in this article which highlights the increasing costs of groceries and cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Food Assistance Program (SNAP), and the most recent data from the WAFOOD survey conducted by UW and WSU in December 2022 – January 2023.
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The pandemic is supposed to be over. Why is Pierce County food insecurity still so high?
February 23, 2023 | The News Tribune
Story highlights WAFOOD research published in 2023 which finds almost half of responding households reported experiencing food insecurity in the past month — with the highest occurrences among BIPOC respondents, households with children and renters. Meanwhile, the overall reliance on food assistance programs and food banks remained high.
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SNAP cuts lead to warning of “hunger cliff”
February 27, 2023 | AXIOS Seattle
Story highlighting how pandemic food aid is ending nationwide, and this change in the federal law means more than half a million households in Washington will lose a total of about $95 million a month in food assistance even as food and fuel costs remain high or increase. Data cited in the article was recently published by the UW & WSU WAFOOD survey.
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