Latest news with #AnnaTaylor
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Shocking study finds healthy eating now costs twice as much as eating junk food
The cost of healthy food has surged at twice the rate of junk food, making it harder than ever for low-income families to afford a nutritious diet, according to new research from the Food Foundation. The Broken Plate 2025 report, published today, examined the trends impacting the UK's food system and the actions needed from policymakers to ensure everyone can afford healthy and sustainable food. It highlighted that too many people in the UK lack the financial means to access decent food, revealing that 1,000 calories of healthy food (such as fresh fruits and vegetables) now costs £8.80, compared to just £4.30 for the same calorie count of processed foods, including ready meals and processed meats. The gap between healthy and unhealthy options has widened dramatically over the past two years, with prices for nutritious foods rising by 21%, while less healthy options increased by only 11%. As a result, millions of low-income households are being forced to cut back on essentials. The Food Foundation charity warns that 60% of food-insecure families have reduced their fruit intake, while 44% have cut back on vegetables due to rising costs. Experts say the UK's food system is failing to support public health. Anna Taylor, executive director of the Food Foundation, describes the situation as a 'tragic imbalance'. 'Our Broken Plate report sadly shows that our food system is failing to provide large swathes of the population with the basic nutrition needed for them to stay healthy and thrive,' she said. To afford the government-recommended healthy diet, the most deprived fifth of the population would need to spend '45% of their disposable income on food, rising to 70% for those households with children,' the report states. This economic pressure is having serious consequences. The report further highlights that children across all income groups are consuming significantly less healthy food – with those from poorer households consuming 20% less fruit and vegetables than wealthier children and nearly twice as likely to be obese. Adding to the crisis, food manufacturers and retailers continue to push unhealthy options. The report found more than a third (36%) of food and soft drink advertising spend is dedicated to junk food (confectionery, snacks, desserts and soft drinks), compared to just 2% of marketing spend on fruit and veg. The research also showed that a quarter of food outlets in England are fast-food chains, rising to a third in the poorest areas. While the UK government has pledged to introduce a National Food Strategy aimed at tackling unhealthy diets, campaigners argue that urgent action is needed to make nutritious food more accessible and affordable for everyone. And that, without intervention, the growing price gap between healthy and unhealthy food risks deepening inequalities for generations to come. Healthier foods are more than twice as expensive per calorie than less healthy foods and less available. The most deprived fifth of the population would need to spend 45% of their disposable income on food to afford the government-recommended healthy diet – rising to 70% for households with children. A quarter of all food outlets in England are fast-food businesses rising to nearly one in three in the most deprived areas. Processed red meat harms more than just your heart: it's linked to dementia too Professor Chris Whitty's annual report urges government to tax 'junk food' in order to tackle obesity You'll never guess which foods are banned under new junk food advertising rules Cut through the noise and get practical, expert advice, home workouts, easy nutrition and more direct to your inbox. Sign up to the WOMEN'S HEALTH NEWSLETTER You Might Also Like 13 Buys To Help You Feel Great From £5 16 Speedo Swimsuits that Won't Flash Your Bum When Getting Swim-fit 11 Best Gym Trainers for Different Types of Workouts
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Poorest fifth of UK would need to spend 45% of disposable income to afford healthy diet
The poorest fifth of the UK would need to spend almost half their disposable income on food to achieve the government's recommended healthy diet, a new report has found. It comes alongside a warning that healthier food is getting more expensive at twice the rate of less healthy options, with food that is lower in fat, salt and sugar now twice as expensive per calorie as its less nutritious counterparts. It means the most deprived fifth of the population would need to spend 45% of their disposable income on food to achieve a government-recommended healthy diet. This rose to 70% of disposable income for those in households with children. This figure has fallen from the peak seen during the cost of living crisis, in 2021 to 2022, when the most deprived fifth needed to spend 50% of their disposable income to achieve a healthy diet - but it remains higher than 2020 to 2021's figure of 43%. The Broken Plate report also found more than a third (37%) of supermarket promotions on food and non-alcoholic drinks were for unhealthy items. As for advertising, more than a third (36%) of ads were for confectionary, snacks, desserts and soft drinks, compared to just 2% for fruit and vegetables. Fast food and tooth decay The study revealed more than a quarter (26%) of places to buy food England are fast food outlets - and in the most deprived areas, it's nearly one in three. Deprived groups were much more likely to be affected by type 2 diabetes, with those in the most deprived fifth of the population almost three times as likely to experience a lower limb amputation than the least deprived in 2022. Children in their last year of primary school in the most deprived areas were also more than twice as likely to have experienced tooth decay in their adult teeth - 23% compared to 10% in the least deprived areas. Anna Taylor, executive director of the Food Foundation, said: "The Broken Plate report sadly shows that our food system is failing to provide large swathes of the population with the basic nutrition needed for them to stay healthy and thrive. "There is a tragic imbalance in the UK between the food that is marketed, available and affordable, and foods that are healthy and sustainable. Often it is the most vulnerable children in our society who suffer the worst consequences of this."Lack of nutrition can lead to serious health conditions, she said, and can cause children to be unable to concentrate in school and have a lasting impact on mental health. Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs Daniel Zeichner said: "The Food Foundation's Broken Plate report highlights important issues with the UK's food system, with unhealthy diets driving obesity levels. "That is why we will introduce a cross-government food strategy to ensure our food system can continue to feed the nation, realise its potential for economic growth, protect the planet, and nourish individuals."
Sky News
29-01-2025
- Health
- Sky News
Poorest fifth of UK would need to spend 45% of disposable income to afford healthy diet
The poorest fifth of the UK would need to spend almost half their disposable income on food to achieve the government's recommended healthy diet, a new report has found. It comes alongside a warning that healthier food is getting more expensive at twice the rate of less healthy options, with food that is lower in fat, salt and sugar now twice as expensive per calorie as its less nutritious counterparts. It means the most deprived fifth of the population would need to spend 45% of their disposable income on food to achieve a government-recommended healthy diet. This rose to 70% of disposable income for those in households with children. This figure has fallen from the peak seen during the cost of living crisis, in 2021 to 2022, when the most deprived fifth needed to spend 50% of their disposable income to achieve a healthy diet - but it remains higher than 2020 to 2021's figure of 43%. The Broken Plate report also found more than a third (37%) of supermarket promotions on food and non-alcoholic drinks were for unhealthy items. As for advertising, more than a third (36%) of ads were for confectionary, snacks, desserts and soft drinks, compared to just 2% for fruit and vegetables. Fast food and tooth decay The study revealed more than a quarter (26%) of places to buy food England are fast food outlets - and in the most deprived areas, it's nearly one in three. Deprived groups were much more likely to be affected by type 2 diabetes, with those in the most deprived fifth of the population almost three times as likely to experience a lower limb amputation than the least deprived in 2022. Children in their last year of primary school in the most deprived areas were also more than twice as likely to have experienced tooth decay in their adult teeth - 23% compared to 10% in the least deprived areas. Anna Taylor, executive director of the Food Foundation, said: "The Broken Plate report sadly shows that our food system is failing to provide large swathes of the population with the basic nutrition needed for them to stay healthy and thrive. "There is a tragic imbalance in the UK between the food that is marketed, available and affordable, and foods that are healthy and sustainable. Often it is the most vulnerable children in our society who suffer the worst consequences of this." Lack of nutrition can lead to serious health conditions, she said, and can cause children to be unable to concentrate in school and have a lasting impact on mental health. Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs Daniel Zeichner said: "The Food Foundation's Broken Plate report highlights important issues with the UK's food system, with unhealthy diets driving obesity levels. "That is why we will introduce a cross-government food strategy to ensure our food system can continue to feed the nation, realise its potential for economic growth, protect the planet, and nourish individuals."
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Diet means some people three-times more likely to lose a limb
Healthier food grew more expensive at twice the rate of less healthy options in the UK over the last two years, a study has found. Food that is lower in fat, salt and sugar is now more than twice as expensive per calorie than less healthy products, according to the Food Foundation's annual Broken Plate report. The most deprived fifth of the population would need to spend 45% of their disposable income on food to afford the government-recommended healthy diet, rising to 70% for these households that also have children, researchers found. The overall figure has fallen from the peak of the cost-of-living crisis in 2021-2022 – when the most deprived fifth needed to spend 50% to achieve a healthy diet – but remains higher than the previous year's figure of 43%. The study found more than a third (37%) of supermarket promotions on food and non-alcoholic drinks are for unhealthy items, and a quarter (26%) of places to buy food in England are fast-food outlets, rising to nearly one in three in the most deprived fifth of areas. Meanwhile, more than a third (36%) of food and soft drink advertising spending is on confectionery, snacks, deserts and soft drinks, compared to just 2% for fruit and vegetables. READ MORE: DWP confirms new state pension rates from April - this is how much you'll get READ MORE: People who work from home can claim up to £140 from HMRC if they're quick While children across all income groups are eating significantly more unhealthy food than is recommended for good health, children in the most deprived fifth of the population were found to be nearly twice as likely to be living with obesity as those in the least deprived fifth by their first year of school. Deprived groups were much more likely to be affected by type 2 diabetes, with those in the most deprived fifth of the population almost three times more likely to experience a lower-limb amputation than the least deprived fifth in 2022. Similarly, children in their last year of primary school in the most deprived areas were more than twice as likely to have experienced tooth decay in their adult teeth (23%) compared to those in the least deprived areas (10%). Anna Taylor, executive director of the Food Foundation, said, 'The Broken Plate report sadly shows that our food system is failing to provide large swathes of the population with the basic nutrition needed for them to stay healthy and thrive. There is a tragic imbalance in the UK between the food that is marketed, available and affordable, and foods that are healthy and sustainable. Often it is the most vulnerable children in our society who suffer the worst consequences of this. 'Not only can lack of nutrition lead to serious health conditions, it can also lead to children being unable to concentrate in school and have lasting negative impact on mental health, entrenching inequalities from a young age. The Government has recently announced that it has started working on a National Food Strategy. We hope that this will be seized as an opportunity to tackle these inequalities through cross departmental working, with acknowledgment that key changes to the food system can help to achieve Labour's missions, from economic growth, to breaking down barriers to opportunity to relieving pressure on the NHS.' Henry Dimbleby, the former government food tsar and author of the last National Food Strategy, said: 'This report couldn't come at a more critical moment. As the government rolls out its new food strategy, addressing the incentives that drive the sale and aggressive marketing of unhealthy foods must be a top priority. 'The human and economic toll is too great to ignore any longer.' Professor Susan Jebb, chairwoman of the Food Standards Agency, said: 'I'm very pleased to welcome the publication of the Food Foundation's new Broken Plate report. We need to find ways to deliver safe, healthy, sustainable food as the default across the food system. If we can reshape the food environment, I feel confident we can improve people's experience so that everyone – whatever their circumstances – can get the physical and mental nourishment that comes from good food.' Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs Daniel Zeichner said: 'The Food Foundation's Broken Plate report highlights important issues with the UK's food system, with unhealthy diets driving obesity levels. 'That is why we will introduce a cross-Government food strategy to ensure our food system can continue to feed the nation, realise its potential for economic growth, protect the planet, and nourish individuals. '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.'
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Healthier food grows more expensive at twice rate of unhealthy options
Healthier food grew more expensive at twice the rate of less healthy options in the UK over the last two years, a study has found. Food that is lower in fat, salt and sugar is now more than twice as expensive per calorie than less healthy products, according to the Food Foundation's annual Broken Plate report. The most deprived fifth of the population would need to spend 45% of their disposable income on food to afford the government-recommended healthy diet, rising to 70% for these households that also have children, researchers found. The overall figure has fallen from the peak of the cost-of-living crisis in 2021-2022 – when the most deprived fifth needed to spend 50% to achieve a healthy diet – but remains higher than the previous year's figure of 43%. The study found more than a third (37%) of supermarket promotions on food and non-alcoholic drinks are for unhealthy items, and a quarter (26%) of places to buy food in England are fast-food outlets, rising to nearly one in three in the most deprived fifth of areas. Meanwhile, more than a third (36%) of food and soft drink advertising spending is on confectionery, snacks, deserts and soft drinks, compared to just 2% for fruit and vegetables. While children across all income groups are eating significantly more unhealthy food than is recommended for good health, children in the most deprived fifth of the population were found to be nearly twice as likely to be living with obesity as those in the least deprived fifth by their first year of school. Deprived groups were much more likely to be affected by type 2 diabetes, with those in the most deprived fifth of the population almost three times more likely to experience a lower-limb amputation than the least deprived fifth in 2022. Similarly, children in their last year of primary school in the most deprived areas were more than twice as likely to have experienced tooth decay in their adult teeth (23%) compared to those in the least deprived areas (10%). Anna Taylor, executive director of the Food Foundation, said, 'The Broken Plate report sadly shows that our food system is failing to provide large swathes of the population with the basic nutrition needed for them to stay healthy and thrive. 'There is a tragic imbalance in the UK between the food that is marketed, available and affordable, and foods that are healthy and sustainable. Often it is the most vulnerable children in our society who suffer the worst consequences of this. 'Not only can lack of nutrition lead to serious health conditions, it can also lead to children being unable to concentrate in school and have lasting negative impact on mental health, entrenching inequalities from a young age. 'The Government has recently announced that it has started working on a National Food Strategy. We hope that this will be seized as an opportunity to tackle these inequalities through cross departmental working, with acknowledgment that key changes to the food system can help to achieve Labour's missions, from economic growth, to breaking down barriers to opportunity to relieving pressure on the NHS.' Henry Dimbleby, the former government food tsar and author of the last National Food Strategy, said: 'This report couldn't come at a more critical moment. As the government rolls out its new food strategy, addressing the incentives that drive the sale and aggressive marketing of unhealthy foods must be a top priority. 'The human and economic toll is too great to ignore any longer.' Professor Susan Jebb, chairwoman of the Food Standards Agency, said: 'I'm very pleased to welcome the publication of the Food Foundation's new Broken Plate report. 'We need to find ways to deliver safe, healthy, sustainable food as the default across the food system. If we can reshape the food environment, I feel confident we can improve people's experience so that everyone – whatever their circumstances – can get the physical and mental nourishment that comes from good food.' Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs Daniel Zeichner said: 'The Food Foundation's Broken Plate report highlights important issues with the UK's food system, with unhealthy diets driving obesity levels. 'That is why we will introduce a cross-Government food strategy to ensure our food system can continue to feed the nation, realise its potential for economic growth, protect the planet, and nourish individuals. '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.' Sign in to access your portfolio
