Every child deserves a Healthy Start briefing

Twenty years ago, Healthy Start was introduced to fill a vital gap by helping families on low incomes afford fruit, vegetables, milk, pulses, infant formula and vitamins during pregnancy and early childhood.

This report shows it is one of the most effective tools we have for giving babies and young children the healthiest possible start in life at the key moment when the foundations are being laid.

But today, while the cost of living crisis has seen unprecedented increases in food prices with worse predicted to come, 750,000 pregnant women and children are missing out on Healthy Start because the rules are too restrictive.