15% of households skipped meals last month because they couldn't afford to buy enough food

[cakeorwine]

‘Health emergency’: 15% of UK households went hungry last month, data shows | Food poverty | The Guardian

"Millions of people – including one in five families with children – have gone hungry or skipped meals in recent weeks because they could not regularly afford to buy groceries, according to new food insecurity data.
According to the Food Foundation tracker, 15% of UK households – equivalent to approximately 8 million adults and 3 million children – experienced food insecurity in January, as high food prices continued to hit the pockets of low-income families.

Expects warned the persistence of high levels of food insecurity among low-income families was a “health emergency” that would drive the prevalence of conditions linked to poor nutrition, such as malnutrition and rickets.
Nearly two-thirds (60%) of food-insecure households reported buying less fruit and 44% bought fewer vegetables as they struggled with the ongoing cost of living crisis. By contrast, just 11% of food-secure households bought less fruit and 6% purchased fewer vegetables"

This is awful data - and something that should be being talked about. Being in work does not protect you from this. Life is just very expensive for some people - and costs are still going up.

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She actually couldn’t get a better one. I’d just like my son to have someone who together they could build a good life. He already has two boys from a psycho mother that now live with me, yes I’m bad aren’t I. 🙄you didn’t comment about the amount of tax I pay towards all these benefits? But then you wouldn’t would you. I’ve paid a lot more in than I’ve ever taken out, can you say the same?

Bit silly of your son to choose to have children with a "psycho mother".

Some people are Fact Resistant. It a fascinating thing to observe. The levels they will go to to avoid facts is amazing.🙈

I remember speaking to my Mother in Law years ago, telling her how delighted I was that I'd stocked up on nappies that were half price at Sainsburys - I had bough the next two sizes worth for my Son (who's now 17). I was on maternity leave but could still afford food/clothes so it was more the delight at getting a bargain, rather than needing to.

She now runs a food bank (although she didn't then as was still working) and she told me about her friend who would not be able to take advantage of such offers; she didn't have the cash upfront like I did, or the car to transport them or the space to even store them at home. When her children were little she'd had to pay over the odds at corner shops when she needed things. Poverty tax is real

Wow, someone posts about their DH dying at 42, and THAT's how you respond.

Sometimes it's best to say nothing.

Im ashamed our country has been allowed to get into this situation. We are a wealthy country that treats its poorest and most vulnerable, the worst. Shamefull.

What gets me is the contradiction of acknowledging that someone needs charity handouts in order to have enough to eat while simultaneously insisting that everyone has enough money for food.

I know exactly the type of people you’re talking about. I lived on a council estate with the highest rates of heroin use in Europe. At the time, 9% of 16-24 year olds were heroin addicts.

Even in this environment, the vast majority of people weren’t the type you talk of. They were very much in the minority. You’re tarring everyone with the same brush.

The shoplifters stick to specific items like cheese, coffee, bacon and razor blades. There’s no way someone could buy “most” of their shopping from them. They don’t walk out of Tesco with a massive trolley full.

How are comments like that helpful? Do you honestly think 3 99p pizzas and a hungry mum are better?

When I couldn’t drive was skint I got home delivery from ASDA for £1. Do a big shop once every 2 weeks and it saves loads

If you can afford to do a big shop every 2 weeks that's great.

Amazing how some people just don't want to believe there is real poverty in the UK. It's very 'lalala I'm not listening '.

No, it doesn't. Unfortunately, it has infantalised adults to the point that they now no longer have to take responsibility for their own actions - "accidentally" fell pregnant, spent all my money can I have some more, accidentally fell pregnant again (and again...) can I have a bigger house, no idea who the father is so no financial contribution from him/them, too tired to cook, don't know how to cook, kids don't like actual food so have to feed them junk, waaaaaaah the government won't give me more waaaaaaah.

Blaming others and refusal to take responsibility is all the rage at the moment. This Tory government are masters at it and a nation is very influenced by those in power.

Why don't they live with their dad?

Yep. Let's bitch about women with fillers and nails. Detracts nicely from the corruption at the heart of government.

news.sky.com/story/michael-gove-under-investigation-by-standards-watchdog-13082996

Well exactly, we've had what 14 years of Tory leadership and the roads are falling apart, the NHS and education are a joke, people are struggling left and right, councils going bust, yet it's all the fault of Janine on the council estate with her 18 kids, her free mansion and feeding her kids chicken nuggets once a day so they're hungry and have malnutrition, but has a sunbed tan and her nails done once a week, every streaming service available, the latest iPhone and the infamous wide screen TV.

Alright then.

Good luck with an Asda home delivery if you don't have a home

https://www.generationrent.org/2024/02/29/homeless-households-overtake-first-time-buyers/

More people were made homeless in England than bought their first home in the 12 months to 30 September 2023, Generation Rent analysis of new government figures finds today.
This is the first time that this has happened since records began. This reveals a shift to a whole new level of horror in the housing system.

Malnutrition

https://www.bigissue.com/news/cost-of-living-crisis-malnutrition-nhs-scurvy-rickets/

New statistics reveal the grim toll that food poverty is taking on the nation’s health
10,986 people were diagnosed with malnutrition after being admitted to English hospitals last financial year, including 312 children. This number has quadrupled in 15 years and doubled over the past decade.

I have questions @Butterdishy

Where can you buy 1 egg for 13p or a half a tin of beans for 14p?

Are you suggesting that the above is a complete meal?

Jacket potato and beans is a meal
Scrambled egg and beans could be a meal.

And people say there's been no growth under the Tories.

@threatmatrix

If you’d read what I wrote I also said about my friend. You know very well the people I meant but just had to try and vilify me anyway. Next time read it all and if you have a problem understanding me just ask 😘

I can't imagine how self involved you have to be to write this in response to a poster sharing that their partner died at 42. Jesus Christ. Do you not feel embarrassed when you read that back?

@threatmatrix

How come your son's kids live with you and not their dad?

It wasn't my meal suggestion. I was just pricing it out per portion...

No one ever talks about the men involved in these unplanned pregnancies. I wonder why...