Nursery World - 'Alarming' increase in food insecurity as millions are forced to skip meals

Within the past month, nearly one in five households, including those with children, have eaten less, skipped meals or gone without eating for an entire day, reveals new data.

The data from the Food Foundation reveals a 'worsening' picture of food insecurity among families in the UK PHOTO Adobe Stock

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:

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.

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