Warning of malnutrition in UK as prices soar

Published on Saturday 4 April 2009 19:57

SOME hard-up families are facing the prospect of malnutrition due to the recession and soaring food prices, a charity has warned.

Save the Children said inadequate benefit payments combined with massive price hikes for staples such as rice and sausages mean some families could not afford decent food. The warning comes as figures from The Grocer magazine show food prices have risen by nearly a fifth over the past year.

Save the Children's Colette Marshall said: "We are facing a crisis. Benefits simply haven't been enough and with rising food costs it means that families cannot afford to give children proper decent food. We think we are heading towards malnutrition happening here in the UK."

The charity is launching a crisis grant scheme next week to help families struggling with food bills.

According to figures from The Grocer, the price of rice has risen 81% over the past year, sausages have shot up 51% and mince 22%.

The Grocer's James Ball said: "It is the staples that have really gone up and that's tough for people who buy the cheapest food. Lots of everyday items cost a lot more than they used to."

Rising food prices were the main driver for a surprise jump in the latest inflation figure. Annual food inflation ran at 11.5% in February, according to the Office for National Statistics.