The Hunger in America 2010 study is the first research study to capture the significant connection between the recent economic downturn and an increased need for emergency food assistance. The number of people in need of food has significantly increased since the previous study in 2006.

The methodology incorporated into the 2010 study includes data collected from February through June, 2009. The Capital Area Food Bank of Texas conducted face-to-face interviews with 354 people seeking emergency food at food pantries, soup kitchens and other emergency feeding programs, as well as interviews with more than 257 agencies that provide food assistance.

Nationally, Feeding America collected quantitative and qualitative feedback from 61,000 face-to-face, in-depth interviews with people seeking emergency food assistance and more than 37,000 agency surveys, making this study the largest, most-comprehensive ever conducted on domestic hunger.