UK food poverty rising at alarming rate
New data shows an alarming increase in food poverty and food bank use in the UK, with proposed benefits cuts threatening to plunge 40,000 more children below the poverty line. Join the Sustainable Food Cities call for urgent action on benefits cuts, sanctions and low wages by signing the food poverty declaration.
From 2010-11 to 2013-14 the UK sunk from 12th to 17th position in the European measurement of food poverty. The UK now trails Portugal, Cyprus and Ireland, with more than 5.5 million Britons unable to afford a meal with meat, chicken, fish (or vegetarian equivalent) every second day. This data confirms that food bank visits – which topped 1 million this year – is just the tip of the iceberg in food poverty in the UK.
These alarming figures are likely to get significantly worse. A leaked internal memo shows that the government’s plans to lower the benefit cap will plunge 40,000 more children below the official poverty line.
Join the Sustainable Food Cities call for urgent action on benefits cuts, sanctions and low wages by signing the food poverty declaration.
Published Monday 1 June 2015
Food Poverty: Millions of people in the UK struggle to get enough to eat. We’re working to change that through people-powered projects and campaigns that tackle the root causes of food poverty and ensure everyone has dignified access to healthy, affordable food.
