Cost of Living correspondent & producer
A basket of healthy food costs more than double that of less healthy options, according to new analysis.
The Food Foundation found that 1,000 calories of healthy food such as fruit and veg costs £8.80, compared to £4.30 for the equivalent amount of less healthy food, such as ready meals and processed meats.
The charity is warning that low-income families are being priced out of being able to afford to eat healthily.
The government has said it is committed to introducing a National Food Strategy that will tackle unhealthy diets.
The analysis carried out for the Food Foundation looked at the average price of 450 items that the Office for National Statistics uses to calculate monthly inflation. It graded foods based on their nutritional value, according to guidance from the Food Standards Agency.
The analysis suggests the gap has widened in the last two years, with the price of healthy foods rising by 21%, while unhealthy options increased by 11%.
The charity warns that 60% of an estimated eight million households dealing with food insecurity in 2024 have reduced how much fruit they buy, while 44% have cut down on vegetables.
Its research found that the poorest families would need to spend 45% of their disposable income on food to be able to afford to eat the government recommended healthy diet, rising to 70% for those with children.
‘Soul-destroying’
Mum-of-two Colette works three jobs, including in-home care work and as a singing teacher.
“It’s a bit soul-destroying [shopping] at a normal supermarket sometimes, even in some of the cheaper ones,” she says.
“It’s crazy when you think, ‘I’ve not even got one bag of stuff and it’s £20.'”
She makes use of her local Bread and Butter Thing food pantry, where surplus food that would otherwise go to landfill is sold to the local community.
For £8.50 she gets three bags: fresh fruit and vegetables, frozen food and cupboard staples.
“I want to be able to provide for my children. I don’t want to feel like I’m a complete failure as a mother to provide a decent meal every evening.”
‘I’ve had panic attacks at the till’
Up to 75 families use the Bread and Butter Thing pantry in south Manchester every week.
Julie, 59, is unable to work due to ill health. She says she would be lost without access to cheap food at the pantry.
“I would love to go to a shop and not worry about money. I’ve had panic attacks at the till worrying that I’ve not got enough money,” she says.
Julcine has two-year-old twins and says she is determined to feed them healthy food, even if it costs more.
“For your children you have to buy the expensive thing, you have no choice. If the supermarkets could bring the prices down it would make a huge difference.”
Anna Taylor, the executive director of the Food Foundation, said parents were being “set up to fail”.
“Trying to feed children well, particularly on low incomes, is like a high-wire act.”
The Food Foundation is calling on the government to incentivise businesses to make healthy food more affordable.
“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,” Ms Taylor told the BBC.
Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs Daniel Zeichner said the report highlighted issues that would be addressed in the government’s proposed National Food Strategy.
“We cannot do this alone, which is why we are working with those across the food sector, utilising their expertise, to transform the industry for good,” he said.
How can I save money on my food shop?
- Look at your cupboards so you know what you have already
- Head to the reduced section first to see if it has anything you need
- Buy things close to their best before date which will be cheaper and use your freezer
Read more tips here