Is there child food poverty in the UK?

The cost of living reached a 41-year high, at this time last year. Despite the recent decrease from 6.8% in July to 6.7% in August 2023, it has affected overall access to services and goods for households. And the increase in child food poverty in the UK holds a close relation to this scenario.

The actual situation of the UK on the food poverty landscape is the highest in Europe, even though the country is the sixth richest country in the world, and millions of people are struggling to have their nutritious needs met.

Hold on a sec, this doesn’t add up. How can part of the population of the sixth richest country in the world struggle to access food? Let’s understand this subject a bit further.... Come with us. Let’s start with an objective point: What is child food poverty?

What is child food poverty?

Generally speaking, child food poverty is when children don’t have access to a minimum diverse diet in their first years of life so they can properly grow and develop to their full potential.

It is a critical issue because when a child is deprived of a diverse diet growing up, it can not only increase the risk of nutrient deficiencies but also affect growth and impair physical and cognitive development.

UNICEF and WHO (World Health Organization) have criteria to measure the conditions to determine if a child is under food insecurity, it’s the dietary diversity score. That accounts for children 6–23 months of age that have access to foods and beverages from at least five out of eight defined food groups during the previous day. These eight food groups are:

1. breast milk
2. grains, roots, tubers, and plantains
3. pulses (beans, peas, lentils), nuts and seeds
4. dairy products (milk, infant formula, yoghourt, cheese)
5. flesh foods (meat, fish, poultry, organ meats)
6. eggs
7. vitamin-A-rich fruits and vegetables
8. other fruits and vegetables.

Based on the access to these 8 food groups, UNICEF distinguishes two categories of child food poverty:

Severe: children younger than 5 years of age that consume foods and beverages from zero, one or two out of eight defined food groups the day before.

Moderate: children younger than 5 years of age that consume foods and beverages from three or four out of eight defined food groups the day before.

Now that you understand the official criteria to understand this side of food insecurity, let’s go further into understanding the current scenario of child food poverty in the UK.

Understanding child food poverty in the UK

Recent data from the Food Foundation think tank shows that one in five (22%) of families reported missing meals, going hungry, or not eating for a whole day in January. In other words – or numbers – this means that now, the UK has almost 4 million children who are struggling with food poverty in their households.

This situation is directly linked to grocery inflation – with a 17.1% rise –which puts a lot of pressure on low-income household budgets. One way to mitigate this situation is to amplify the access to free school meals, on budget, it alone would mean saving £440 a child annually.

However, it is estimated that 800,000 children in poverty do not qualify for free school meals. The current criteria, which was established in 2018 and is still in place, to be eligible is that households must have an annual income of under £7,400 before benefits and after tax.

The increased food insecurity and reduced purchasing power are renewing the political interest in expanding eligibility for free school meals as a way of mitigating the cost-of-living crisis for low-income families.

For instance, the London boroughs of Tower Hamlets, Newham, Islington, Southwark, and Westminster already offer free school meals for all primary pupils. London, Scotland, and Wales have plans on the move to offer free lunches for primary school children by 2024.

You can make a difference!

Although governmental actions are improving, you, a citizen, can also roll up your sleeves and contribute to the mitigation of child food poverty in the UK. Discover ways you can help by joining Now-u’s campaign.

To help you join, we are launching a brand-new version of the NOW-U app, featuring campaigns covering each of our causes, along with exciting new features.

We’re focusing on engaging long-term with our users, as well as showcasing the vital work carried out by our partner organisations. Click here to download the app and make it happen.