DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – More Iowans are turning to food pantries as rising grocery costs and changes to SNAP benefits affect how they shop, according to a new survey from the Iowa Food Bank Association.
The association released its annual Food Insecurity Survey, which covers responses from more than 900 Iowans.
Higher prices driving pantry demand
The survey found more than 75% of respondents have changed the amounts or types of food they buy because of increasing costs. 42% percent said they have gotten food from an Iowa pantry.
At the North Liberty Community Pantry, 65% of households that use the pantry have an adult with a full-time job.
“They worked hard all their life and the cost of food, housing, utilities, gas, is so great that they can no longer afford to meet their needs without assistance,” Ryan Bobst, the North Liberty Community Pantry director said.
To meet higher demand, pantries across the Iowa Food Bank Association’s six partnering food banks spent $21 million on food supplies in 2025 — a $9 million increase from the previous year, according to Katie Sorrell, executive director of the Iowa Food Bank Association.
“Iowans are having to make changes in what they’re purchasing just because of cost,” Sorrell said.
SNAP rule changes add confusion
Federal legislation from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act has changed guidelines for who can receive SNAP benefits. New state laws that took effect at the start of the year also ban certain foods considered unhealthy from SNAP coverage.
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services lists the foods no longer covered, but shoppers say the changes have left them uncertain at checkout.
“These days I just buy a couple of things at a time because I never know what’s going to be denied,” said Kris Keppy of Davenport.
Bobst said the confusion is also affecting people who visit his pantry.
“There are certain things that you might not think are considered eligible anymore, but they are,” Bobst said. “This is a wash to neighbors who just need access to more food. Focusing on health and nutrition is something people are already doing.”
Survey reflects broad concern
The survey also captured attitudes on food insecurity from respondents across the political spectrum — 40% identified as Republican, 29% as Democrat and 31% as Independent registered voters.
“71% of Iowans think food insecurity is a concern in Iowa and half of the respondents say that the state of Iowa is not doing enough to support people who are facing food insecurity,” the Iowa Food Bank Association said in a statement.
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