NEWS

The Greater Boston Food Bank and Mass General Brigham’s Sixth Annual Statewide Food Access Report Shows Rise in Food Insecurity

Apr 8, 2026

A record 40% of Massachusetts households—approximately 1.1 million—experienced food insecurity in 2025, according to the sixth annual Massachusetts Food Access Report: Hunger on the Rise (2026 Report) from The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) and Mass General Brigham. The rate has more than doubled since 2019, increasing from 37% in 2024. The findings reflect the compounding effects of Massachusetts’ high cost of living, inflation, and, more recently, disruptions to food access programs following the 2025 federal government shutdown.

While seniors have historically reported lower rates of food insecurity, with approximately one-quarter of the state’s population 60 or older, 1 in 3 experienced food insecurity in 2025.

Other key findings include the following:

Charitable Food as a Critical Safety Net: The charitable food system is playing an increasingly essential role, with over half (56%) of food insecure households depending on them—a record high that underscores increased need and the limits of existing public supports.

SNAP is Insufficient: Amidst federal funding cuts, 75% of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants reported they still need additional food support, and 78% of households received less than $300 per month in SNAP benefits.

Affordability Gaps: 88% of food insecure households reported trouble paying for at least one basic expense, compared with 27% of food secure households. On average, food insecure households need an additional $500 per month to meet basic expenses.

Impact on Children and Families: Child‑level food insecurity rose to 37%, up from 33% last year.

Nutrition and Health Outcomes: Among households experiencing food insecurity in Massachusetts, 57% reported low nutrition security—or difficulty affording healthy foods—an increase from 51% in 2022. Food insecurity is linked to worse health outcomes, with nearly 8 in 10 adults living in food insecure households reporting at least one chronic health condition, compared with about 66% of those in food secure households. Similarly, nearly 6 in 10 children in food insecure households are living with a chronic health condition, compared to 39% of their food secure counterparts.

Health System Costs: Up to $1.6 billion of healthcare spending for emergency room and inpatient hospitalization for MassHealth patients may be related to food insecurity.

Demographic Data and Disparities: Hispanic households have consistently experienced the highest rates of food insecurity during the past six years, with levels reaching 63% in 2025. Black households (51%) and LGBTQ+ households (58%) continue to experience high levels of food insecurity.

In response to the study’s findings, GBFB and Mass General Brigham call for the following immediate increases in funding for public programs and sustained structural reforms to build a food security system capable of meeting escalating needs, while managing the existing crisis.

Recommendations include:

Increasing state-level funding through the Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program (MEFAP) to $58 million.

Strengthening SNAP administration and benefit adequacy by providing DTA with $30 million in funding to hire additional caseworkers.

Expanding access to WIC, Universal School Meals, HIP, TEFAP, CSFP, and HRSN medically tailored nutrition supports.

Investing in Food is Medicine initiatives to prevent and treat diet-related illnesses. Also investing in research that builds the evidence base for effective, scalable food and nutrition security interventions, including through MEFAP, Food Security Infrastructure Grants (FSIG), and Healthy Incentives Program (HIP).