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New analysis has shown that a basket of healthy food costs more than double that of less healthy options. According to The Food Foundation, 1,000 calories of healthy food like fruits and vegetables costs £8.80, while the equivalent amount of less healthy food like ready meals and processed meats costs £4.30. The charity warns that low-income families are being priced out of being able to afford to eat healthily, and as much as 70% of disposable income is spent on trying to maintain a healthy diet with children.
The analysis carried out for The Food Foundation examined the average price of 450 items used by the Office for National Statistics to calculate monthly inflation. These items were graded based on their nutritional value using guidance from the Food Standards Agency. The study highlighted that the price of healthy foods had surged 21% in the last two years, while that of unhealthy options increased by 11%.
Research by the foundation shows that 60% of an estimated eight million households dealing with food insecurity in 2024 have reduced how much fruit they purchase, while 44% have cut down on vegetables. The poorest families must spend 45% of their disposable income to afford to eat in line with the government’s recommended healthy diet, rising to 70% for those with children.
The UK government is committed to introducing a National Food Strategy that will deal with unhealthy diets. The Food Foundation is calling on officials to incentivise business to make healthy food more accessible. Executive director of The Food Foundation, Anna Taylor, says parents are being “set up to fail”. She believes that “This is a moment in time, the government could really learn from the mistakes of the past and create incentives to produce nutritious food at affordable prices.” Meanwhile, Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs Daniel Zeichner said the report highlighted issues that will be addressed in the proposed National Food Strategy
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