Final answer:
The failure of government macroeconomic policy is a major reason for the increase in individuals and families using food banks.
Step-by-step explanation:
A major reason for an increase in individuals and families using food banks, many of whom had never used food banks before, is the failure of government macroeconomic policy. According to Nobel Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen, food shortages, famine, and general food insecurity are often caused by this failure. Sen suggests that macroeconomic policies focusing on stable inflation, full employment, education of women, and property rights are more likely to eliminate starvation and provide a more even distribution of food.