Low-Income Asian Americans: High Levels Of Food Insecurity And Low Participation In The CalFresh Nutrition Program

Abstract

Little is known about food insecurity and the extent of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation in the heterogeneous Asian American population. Using California Health Interview Survey data from the period 2011-20, we examined both issues among low-income Asian American adults from six origin groups: Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, South Asian, and Vietnamese. We found high and varied levels of overall food insecurity, with the highest burden among Filipino adults (40 percent). Food insecurity by severity was also heterogenous; very low food security affected 2 percent of Chinese adults but 9 percent and 10 percent of Filipino and Japanese adults, respectively. Participation in CalFresh (California-implemented SNAP) ranged from 11 percent and 12 percent among Korean and Chinese adults, respectively, to 20 percent among Vietnamese adults. Compared with English-proficient low-income Asian American adults, those with limited English proficiency were no less likely to participate in CalFresh, possibly reflecting language assistance required by California law and provided by community-based organizations. These results underscore the importance of collecting and reporting disaggregated data by Asian origin group that could inform targeted outreach and interventions.

EXHIBIT 2

Prevalence and level of food insecurity among low-income California Health Interview Survey respondents, by Asian origin group and other racial and ethnic group, 2011–20 SOURCE Authors’ analyses of pooled 2011–20 California Health Interview Survey data. NOTES Sample sizes are in the exhibit 1 notes. Data for this exhibit include those with household incomes of less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The California Health Interview Survey did not assess food security status among the entire sample; rather, it asked only respondents with household income less than 200 percent of poverty about their food security status. Food insecurity among respondents with household income less than 200 percent of poverty was calculated by dividing the number of respondents who were asked about food security status and indicated food insecurity (low or very low food security) by the number of respondents who were asked about food security status. The error bars indicate 95% confidence intervals. The sum of respondents indicating low food security and respondents indicating very low food security is equal to the total of those indicating food insecurity. All Asian origin groups had significantly lower food insecurity prevalence compared with African American or Black respondents (p < 0.05). Except for Filipino respondents, all Asian origin groups had significantly lower food insecurity prevalence compared with Hispanic or Latino and White respondents (p < 0.05). The heterogeneity of the two “other” racial and ethnic groups precluded meaningful interpretation; for completeness, data for these two groups were included in exhibit 1 but not exhibits 2–4.

EXHIBIT 3

CalFresh participation among low-income California Health Interview Survey respondents, by Asian origin group and other racial and ethnic group, 2011–20 SOURCE Authors’ analyses of pooled 2011–20 California Health Interview Survey data. NOTES Sample sizes are in the exhibit 1 notes. Data for this exhibit include those with household incomes of 200 percent or less of the federal poverty level. Most CalFresh-receiving households are subject to a gross income determination test, with the maximum gross allowed being 200 percent of poverty. For each group, the prevalence of CalFresh participation was calculated by dividing the number of respondents who had household income at or below 200 percent of poverty, were asked about CalFresh participation, and indicated CalFresh participation by the number of respondents who had household income at or below 200 percent of poverty and were asked about CalFresh participation. The error bars indicate 95% confidence intervals. All Asian origin groups had significantly lower CalFresh participation compared with African American or Black respondents. Chinese, Korean, and South Asian respondents had significantly lower CalFresh participation compared with Hispanic or Latino and White respondents (p < 0.05).