The latest findings from the Food Foundation’s Food Insecurity Tracker – a series of nationally representative surveys to assess UK food insecurity levels – show a ‘rapidly worsening picture’ as the cost-of-living crisis deepens.
Key findings from the latest survey of 4,280 adults, carried out at the end of last month, reveal:
- 26 per cent of households with children have experienced food insecurity in the past month – an increase of 50 per cent on April.
- 4 million children now live in homes without adequate access to food.
- Larger families are worse hit – among households with three or more children, 42 per cent have suffered some form of food insecurity in the past month, compared to 16 per cent of households without children.
- 7 million adults, or nearly one in five households, (18 per cent) have been unable to afford or get food so they have eaten less, skipped or gone without meals for an entire day. This is double the number affected in January.
- More than 70 per cent of households who have experienced food insecurity in the past month said they have cooked less, eaten cold food, turned off fridges or washed dishes in cold water because of rising energy costs.
The survey also found that households receiving universal credit are more likely to be affected by food insecurity and that impacted families are not only cutting back on the quantity of food, but the quality of what they buy – including reducing the amount of fruit and vegetables they purchase.
The Food Foundation is now calling for ‘urgent action’ to ensure all children in poverty have access to at least one nutritious meal a day at school by expanding free school meals to all children whose parents are receiving universal credit.
Currently in order for primary school pupils from Year 3 onwards to qualify for free school meals, households must be in receipt of benefits and have an income of less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits). All Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 pupils receive free school meals under the universal scheme.
The charity also wants a renewed Government commitment to increase benefits in line with inflation and action from retailers to make it easier for people to afford the food they need and rebalance the cost of a basic shopping basket to make the healthy options the most affordable.
'It is hard for people who have never had to worry about having enough food to understand what it might feel like'
Anna Taylor, executive director of the Food Foundation, said, ‘There are very serious physical and mental health implications from these worsening trends. It is hard for people who have never had to worry about having enough food to understand what it might feel like and we’re continuing to call on the Government to make this a priority.
‘We want to see the expansion of free school meals to children on universal credit to ensure that every child is guaranteed a healthy, nutritious meal every school day, to take some pressure off families’ budgets.
‘We want the Government to increase benefits in line with inflation and ensure employers pay at least the real living wage so people can pay essential bills.
‘We also want to see measures introduced to make fruit, vegetables and other healthy foods available to those on the lowest incomes, so they are not forced into a poor diet of cheap processed food which promotes obesity.’
Gwen Hines, Save the Children UK chief executive, said, ‘No child should struggle through the school day because they are hungry. Yet, right now, 800,000 children living in poverty do not have access to free school meals and are missing out on healthy, nutritious food.
'Clearly, this is unacceptable and excludes many children from getting what could be their only hot meal of the day.
‘Extending free school meals to all children whose families receive universal credit is the right and fair thing to do.’