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85% Income Needed for Kids' Healthy Diet
10 Jun
Summary
- Poorest families need 85% income for children's healthy meals.
- Healthy food costs nearly double per calorie compared to unhealthy.
- Fast food outlets are a quarter of food sources in England.
Families in the UK are finding it increasingly difficult to afford healthy food, with the poorest households with children needing to spend 85% of their disposable income on a healthy diet. This represents a significant 15 percentage point increase since 2024, highlighting a growing affordability crisis.
Comparatively, healthier food options are nearly double the price per calorie than less healthy choices. Foods high in fat, salt, and sugar are the only category to have seen a price decrease in the past year, while protein foods increased by 4% and fruits/vegetables by 1.7%.
The report also notes the prevalence of fast-food outlets, which now make up a quarter of all food purchasing locations in England. This figure rises to over one in three in the most deprived areas, indicating a disparity in access to nutritious food.
These financial pressures are set to intensify over the coming months, particularly given recent global events impacting food prices. The Food Foundation advocates for urgent government action, including mandatory reporting of healthy food sales and a support package for low-income families to ensure nutritional security.
