Tue, 28 Jan 2025

Healthy food costs more than double less healthy options

Low-income families are being priced out of being able to afford to eat healthily, a charity warns.
A study by The Food Foundation found that healthy food options are being priced out of reach for low-income families, with a 1,000 calorie basket of fruits and vegetables costing £8.80 compared to £4.30 for less healthy alternatives. This price gap has widened over the past two years, with healthy foods rising by 21% and unhealthy options increasing by 11%. The charity warns that 60% of households experiencing food insecurity have reduced their purchase of fruit, while 44% have cut back on vegetables. The research suggests that the poorest families would need to spend 45-70% of their disposable income on food just to afford a healthy diet recommended by the government. Many low-income families are forced to rely on food banks and charities, such as The Bread and Butter Thing pantry in south Manchester, which provides surplus food at a reduced cost. The Food Foundation is calling for the government to incentivize businesses to make healthy food more affordable, saying that parents are being "set up to fail" by trying to feed their children well on low incomes. Minister for Food Security Daniel Zeichner acknowledged the report's findings and said that the government's proposed National Food Strategy would address these issues. Individuals affected by food insecurity share their struggles, including a mum-of-two who relies on her local food pantry to provide for her family. The charity iCare Peterborough also reports seeing new faces at their volunteer-led service, highlighting ongoing demand for support with food and fuel poverty.
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