Latest food insecurity tracker shows millions struggling to feed themselves

Shona Goudie, Policy and Advocacy Manager at The Food Foundation, said: "Last week’s announcement that the Government are convening a Child Poverty Action Taskforce is a positive step; however, the immediate action that is so desperately needed to relieve the families across the UK who are going hungry was sorely lacking in the King’s Speech.

"Food insecurity has been persistently far too high over the last few years with the previous government failing to take decisive action for too long.

"We are calling on the new government to ensure that everyone can afford and access a healthy diet that will keep them healthy, and in doing so achieve their ambitions to make our children healthier, relieve pressure on the NHS and grow the economy.

"We urge the Government to set reducing children's food insecurity as a goal for the child poverty taskforce and Children's Wellbeing Bill, and to take critical next steps to achieve this including ensuring the national minimum/living wage and benefit levels cover the cost of basic essentials, including food; extending eligibility for nutritional safety nets including free school meals at lunchtime and Healthy Start; and abolishing the two-child benefit limit."

The findings have led to calls from citizens and experts for government to take action to reduce children’s food insecurity in its first 100 days of office, including from prominent figures such as Michael Marmot, Director of the UCL Institute of Health Equity and Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health.

• For analysis of the findings tune in to our latest podcast on Friday at 12pm - click here to listen and find other episodes.