Wed, 22 Oct 2025

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 Carer has to skip meals to ensure her daughter has enough food

Alicia Mehaffey says the rising cost of food means there are time she does not eat so her daughter can.

* A single mother, Alicia Mehaffey, has said she often skips meals so her daughter can eat
* New figures show that UK inflation rate remains at 3.8% for third month in a row
* Food prices have fallen slightly since August but are still higher than a year ago
* The cost of food and non-alcoholic drinks is up 4.5% compared to last year
* In the past five years, food prices have increased by around 37%
* A £10 pack of groceries that would have cost £7.30 in 2020 now costs £13.70
* Food banks are struggling as donations decrease and they have to buy more food at higher prices
* One in three children in Northern Ireland live in food insecurity, according to Trussell Trust figures
* The charity says many people are having to skip meals or reduce sizes due to financial struggles
  >>