1 in 3 Children Reported at Risk of Hunger in State

Nearly one out of every three children in California is hungry or at risk of hunger, according to a study released in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

The study involved a representative sampling of the state’s 4.9 million children under 12, said Laurie True, who directed the survey of families. Based on the findings, True estimated 647,000 in that age range suffer from hunger and another 700,000 are at risk of hunger.

To be listed as hungry, families had to answer “yes” to at least five of eight questions, such as, “Does your household ever run out of money to buy food to make a meal?”

The study, coordinated by the Food Research and Action Center, estimated that 5.5 million children nationwide suffer from hunger and an additional 6 million children are at risk of hunger--altogether, one-fourth of children under age 12. A campaign involving 100 grass-roots groups in 42 states will try to remove barriers to participation in government food programs and make some programs, such as school breakfasts or summer meals, more widely available.