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Too many British families are hungry!

(552 Posts)
CvD66 Tue 27-Feb-24 13:55:32

According to Food Foundation tracker, 15% of UK households, approx 8m adults and 3m children, experienced food insecurity in January, as food prices continued to hit low-income families. (Today’s Guardian).
The report states that 60% of households bought less fruit and 44% less vegetables. Already the NHS has recorded an increase in hospital admissions for nutrition deficiency. Cancer UK has estimated there are 33,000 extra cases of cancer in UK associated with deprivation.
In contrast to this, the UK has 171 billionaires.
Is this really a country we can be proud of?

MissAdventure Tue 27-Feb-24 16:19:57

I've asked before who is able to spot the latest iPhone in someone else's hand.
I wouldn't have a clue.

MissAdventure Tue 27-Feb-24 16:18:20

Exactly my point, GSmum.

Doodledog Tue 27-Feb-24 16:17:55

Have smartphones taken over from flatscreen TVs as the measure by which people judge the poor as undeserving?

I wonder when 'Oh, but they can afford shoes' became outmoded as a threshold?

Germanshepherdsmum Tue 27-Feb-24 16:16:57

If you saw me you wouldn’t know I have clinical depression MissA. And I can tell you from experience that domestic violence doesn’t always show.

MissAdventure Tue 27-Feb-24 16:15:29

May as well get it all out the way.
Latest iPhones, broadband, fake nails.. smile

MissAdventure Tue 27-Feb-24 16:13:59

When I go out, I see no evidence of depressed people, people caught up in domestic violence, people who have terminal illnesses.
Yet I know there are droves of them.

Germanshepherdsmum Tue 27-Feb-24 16:13:51

Yes, Primrose, it’s amazing how many eat takeaway food - and it’s expensive. Our local fish and chip shops are always busy, as are the Indian and Chinese takeaways.

Callistemon21 Tue 27-Feb-24 16:07:37

Have the billionaires played the correct amount of tax?
Is the tax system fair? If not, is that the fault of billionaires?
How many billionaires are also philanthropists?
Why are food prices going up yet farmers are struggling and many give up farming or are talking about doing so? Some farmers have committed suicide through the stress of it all.
What part are supermarkets playing in the rise in prices?

Certainly people who are managing (but probably not wealthy) are generous with food donations.

Primrose53 Tue 27-Feb-24 16:02:22

I don’t believe it. There are breakfast clubs, after school clubs, food banks, community fridges. Supermarkets doing great deals on fruit and veg. Some cafes giving free kids meals if parents have a meal. Free school meals for ALL young kids. None of which were available when I was a kid.

I saw no evidence during half term that people are hungry. Everywhere I went families were out eating fish and chips, McDonalds, KFC, burgers on market stalls etc.

Some people don’t know how to budget and choose to spend their money on things other than food so they come to rely on handouts and it becomes the norm.

Delia22 Tue 27-Feb-24 15:41:45

Maybe it,s irrelevant but how many of the "poor,disadvantaged" families each have I phones,possibly on contracts? Also some who purchase vapes. Sometimes it may be down to education.I don't mean general education but I believe frozen fruit and vegetables are relatively cheap.Doesn,t take much to make a healthy soup.However on the other hand I know there are many families where there are two adults working who struggle to buy essential basic nourishing food. There doesn't seem to be an easy answer and yes there has always been poverty.

Baggs Tue 27-Feb-24 15:28:35

Thanks seawoozle. Does the link to that site mean that the definition of food insecurity is "needing to use a food bank"?

SeaWoozle Tue 27-Feb-24 15:21:01

www.trusselltrust.org/what-we-do/research-advocacy/hunger-in-the-uk/

Baggs Tue 27-Feb-24 15:17:12

I had a look at the website of Food Foundation Tracker. I could not find any information as to how they are defining food insecurity.

AGAA4 Tue 27-Feb-24 15:15:45

MaizieD where did I say I tolerated it.? I certainly don't. I have always worked for the benefit of children and can't bear to know they go hungry.

SeaWoozle Tue 27-Feb-24 15:06:11

Germanshepherdsmum

Is it the fault of the billionaires?

But if you want to go there.......

"......."Billionaire" isn't a qualification. It's the description of a person who is hoarding more resources than they could use in 100 lifetimes while other people are starving. It's the name for a human dragon sleeping on its pile of rubies and gold"

SeaWoozle Tue 27-Feb-24 15:04:26

Germanshepherdsmum

Is it the fault of the billionaires?

Oh dear.

welbeck Tue 27-Feb-24 15:03:50

i found an old till receipt from a year ago.
even in lidl, the increase in food prices is far greater than it was say 10 years ago, from one year to the next.
no wonder so many are struggling to afford the basics.

MissInterpreted Tue 27-Feb-24 14:58:22

MaizieD

AGAA4

There has always been inequality. It's just that the divide is getting wider.

There has always been starvation. Does that mean we have to tolerate it?

No, we shouldn't. It's a disgrace that, in this day and age, anyone should be going hungry - especially children.

MaizieD Tue 27-Feb-24 14:32:27

kazz94

Sorry! I appear to have commented on this post instead of posting! Newbie mistake

No worries, kazz94, it happens to the best of us from time to time grin

Welcome to Gransnet.

MaizieD Tue 27-Feb-24 14:31:02

AGAA4

There has always been inequality. It's just that the divide is getting wider.

There has always been starvation. Does that mean we have to tolerate it?

kazz94 Tue 27-Feb-24 14:29:29

Sorry! I appear to have commented on this post instead of posting! Newbie mistake

kazz94 Tue 27-Feb-24 14:19:51

Bit of a rant and some may say totally unimportant but for those of us who hate football, telly tonight is football on BBC1 AND ITV!!! Ergggghhh

AGAA4 Tue 27-Feb-24 14:12:34

There has always been inequality. It's just that the divide is getting wider.

Whitewavemark2 Tue 27-Feb-24 14:08:13

Germanshepherdsmum

Is it the fault of the billionaires?

That is not what was said!

Germanshepherdsmum Tue 27-Feb-24 14:00:03

Is it the fault of the billionaires?