U.S. food stamp total is record third month in a row

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. food stamp enrollment set a record for the third month in a row, rising to 32.55 million at latest count, the U.S. government said on Monday.

In a monthly update, the Agriculture Department said food stamp enrollment in February of 32.55 million was up 1.1 percent, or 350,000 people, from January and up 17 percent, or 4.8 million people, from one year earlier.

The major federal antihunger program, food stamps help poor people buy groceries. Enrollment is highest during times of economic distress. The U.S. unemployment rate is 8.5 percent, the highest in 25 years.

Slightly more than one in 10 Americans received food stamps, according to USDA's count. The U.S. population is 306.4 million.

"Currently, one in three eligible people are missed," said the antihunger group Food Research and Action Center. It said an enrollment campaign would "help maximize the federal recovery dollars available to help local families and businesses."

Five states -- Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Rhode Island and Wisconsin -- reported increases of more than 3 percent for February. Overall, enrollment was up in 43 states from January, down in six and unchanged in Arkansas.

Texas had the largest enrollment, 2.93 million, down 1.7 percent, followed by California with 2.59 million, up 1.7 percent, and New York state with 2.25 million, up 1.6 percent.

Food stamps were renamed the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program last fall.

U.S. enrollment in recent months:

February - 32.555 million

January - 32.205 million

December 2008 - 31.784 million

November 2008 - 31.097 million

October 2008 - 31.050 million

Sept 2008 - 31.587 million

(Reporting by Charles Abbott; Editing by Christian Wiessner)