According to the Department of Agriculture's most recently released data, the number of individuals enrolled in the food stamp program (known officially as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP) has remained above 45 million every single month for three years straight.
In May 2011, 45,410,683 individuals received food stamps. As of May 2014 (the most recent date for which data are available), 46,225,054 people were on food stamps. At no point between the two dates did the number of food stamp enrollments ever fall below the 45 million mark.
Comment: From the report Profits from Poverty: How Food Stamps Benefit Corporations:
"The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is an unusual entity in that, even though it was designed as a human welfare program, it exists administratively as a part of and is run by the Department of Agriculture. Recall that the program was originally conceived as a way to maintain high agricultural commodity prices."
Comment: For further information:
Poverty now rampant: Half of U.S. kids now on food stamps
One in seven Americans live on food stamps