food insecurity
n.— «There was a 15-percent increase between 1999 and 2002 in the number of U.S. households facing “food insecurity”—1.5 million families. Overall, this translates into more than 12 million families not knowing where their next meal will come from due to layoffs and low-wage jobs with no benefits. » —“Is the glass half empty or half full?” Workers World (New York City) Apr. 1, 2004. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)