Table 2.

Validated measures to assess food security

Surveys	Languages validated	No. of questions	Advantages	Disadvantages
USDA Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM)23	English Spanish	18	Well-established Validated	Not equipped to assess hunger Lengthy if respondents are food insecure
USDA Adult HFSSM53	English Spanish	10	Less respondent burden Avoids asking unnecessary questions about children’s food security, which can be sensitive	Does not provide specific information on food security of children
USDA HFSSM Six-Item Short Form26	English Spanish	6	Least respondent burden Can screen inadequate food access using three items	Less precise Does not quantify severity of food insecurity Does not provide specific information on food security of children
Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP)54	English	6	Representative of population at the state level Samples all household individuals above age 15	No information on food expenditures Oversamples low-income households Part of a larger questionnaire