Food Insecurity affecting one in eight households in the UK

Food Insecurity affecting one in eight (12%) households in the UK 

New data released today from The Food Foundation shows:

• Food insecurity⁽¹⁾ remains high, currently standing at almost 1 in 8 households in the UK (12.2% compared to 11.3% one year ago)
• This increases to 1 in 6 of households with children experiencing food insecurity (16.7% compared to 14.9% one year ago)
• This equates to 6.5 million adults and 2.2 million children across the UK who are living in food insecure households
• Almost 1 in 10 (9%) households have accessed food support in past 6 months, with the most common being a food bank
• More than 1 in 3 households (39%) report that it is more difficult to afford food compared to one year ago, and 2 in 5 households (41%) are concerned about affording food in the next month
• Of households who are food insecure, 65% bought less fruit, and 55% less veg in the last month

The Food Foundation has today published data (supplied by YouGov and independently analysed) gathered in July 2026 which shows that food insecurity remains stubbornly high in the UK, with vulnerable groups particularly affected, such as single parent households (27.1%), households in receipt of universal credit (35.9%) and households with someone affected by disability (19.2%).

The new data reveals that affordability remains a barrier to households eating more healthily. Two in three people (65%) agree that if fruit and vegetables were more affordable, that would help their household to eat more of them.

Two in three (65%) agree that if fruit and vegetables were discounted or on offer more often, that would help their household eat more and half of respondents (50%) agree that if fruit and vegetables were available to buy with vouchers or at discounted prices with loyalty cards, that would help their household eat more.

Previous research also shows that households with children in the lowest income fifth of the population would have to spend a staggering 85% of their disposable income to afford the government recommended healthy diet and that healthier food is nearly twice as expensive per calorie as less healthy food, with the gap widening.

This is taking place on a backdrop of concerns around the affordability of food, with food prices forecast to climb again through the rest of 2026 because of the US-Iran war, and climate shocks increasingly impact harvests. The Energy and Climate Change Intelligence Unit has predicted that, by November 2026, food prices will be 50% higher than they were in 2021, an increase in food prices that previously took nearly two decades to reach.

The Food Foundation is calling on the new Prime Minister to address household food insecurity as a matter of urgency and ensure healthier diets are affordable for all. Food insecurity can serve as a critical indicator as part of the Makerfield test.

By working as an early warning sign of the impact that cost of living pressures and the squeezing of households budgets are having, it sheds light on where action needs to be prioritised.

In order to achieve this the new Prime Minister should:

• Introduce a support package for low - income families to afford healthy  food, including expansion of Healthy Start, the benefit for parents with children under 4
• Introduce a Good Food Bill to provide long - term nutritional security and protection for citizens and farmers alike, including with legally binding targets for food insecurity, fruit and veg consumption and obesity
• Rapidly introduce the prevention commitments in the government’s NHS 10 Year Health Plan, such as mandatory reporting of healthy sales for big businesses, without further delay
• Support local authorities to improve access to nutritious foods in deprived neighbourhoods through the Government's Food Strategy and Pride in Place to enable communities to act on their priorities 

Anna Taylor, Executive Director of The Food Foundation, said: "Two years on from Labour coming into power and one year since the government published its ambitions for a Good Food Cycle, food insecurity levels in the UK remain unacceptably high.

"And international conflict and unprecedented weather patterns are forecast to drive food prices up even further by the end of the year.

"The new Prime Minister must take bold steps to ensure everyone can afford and access a healthy diet. We need urgent action to ensure the most vulnerable families are protected, and a Good Food Bill that sets out a long-term statutory framework for building public health and national and household resilience."

Professor Sir Michael Marmot CH, Director, UCL Institute of Health Equity, UCL Dept of Epidemiology and Public Health said: "Food related ill health remains a huge problem in the UK as millions still struggle to afford or access the nutritious food that would keep them healthy.

"These stats show quite how many people are having to go without. It's no surprise then that the cost of living and ever increasing food prices are front of mind for people across the country and political spectrum.

"It is important that Andy Burnham recognises that food security at national and individual level must be a priority and takes decisive action as soon as possible. Food insecurity in the midst of plenty is particularly shocking."

FOOTNOTES

⁽¹⁾ The Food Foundation asked three questions to assess whether people are food insecure. If they answer yes to any of the three questions, they are classified as food insecure: In the past month, have you/anyone else in your household:

• Had smaller meals than usual or skipped meals because you couldn’t afford or get access to food?  
• Ever been hungry but not eaten because you couldn’t afford or get access to food?  
• Not eaten for a whole day because you couldn’t afford or get access to food?

⁽²⁾  As part of The Food Foundation’s regular Food Insecurity Tracking programme we commissioned YouGov to conduct a survey of 4,019 adults in the UK between 25th and 30th June 2026. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults 18+. The figures presented from the online survey have been analysed independently by The Food Foundation and Genevieve Hadida, Research Fellow in Food Systems, Health & Sustainability at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.   

NOTES TO EDITORS

Please contact: Juliet Grant, Senior Communications Manager, The Food Foundation, on 07929 075489 or email juliet.grant@foodfoundation.org.uk

AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW

Anna Taylor, Executive Director, The Food Foundation 

Hannah Brinsden, Head of Policy, The Food Foundation 

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About The Food Foundation
The Food Foundation is a charity working to influence food policy and business practice, shaping a sustainable food system which makes healthy diets affordable and accessible for all. We work in partnership with researchers, campaigners, community bodies, industry, investors, government and citizens to galvanise the UK’s diverse agents of change, using surprising and inventive ideas to drive fundamental shifts in our food system. These efforts are based on the continual re-evaluation of opportunities for action, building and synthesising strong evidence, convening powerful coalitions, harnessing citizens’ voices and delivering impactful communications.
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