In the 2014 SIPP Panel and from 2018-2022 SIPP, hot-deck allocations for Food Security data were not processed correctly. Specifically, cases were being assigned as either “not in universe” (AFOOD1-6 = 0) or logically allocated (AFOOD1-6 = 3) instead of imputed (AFOOD1-6 = 2). The logic to assign values to the hot-deck from respondents with valid data was also not being used due to errors in pathing.

Given these issues, data users should exercise caution when comparing pre-2023 Food Security estimates to current estimates.