Food insecurity levels peaked during the height of the cost of living crisis in 2022. Since then, levels have remained stubbornly high, though they had been slowly decreasing. New data gathered in January, however, shows that food insecurity rates are creeping up once again.
With fears growing over what a drawn out war in Iran could mean for food prices and food insecurity levels due to increasing oil prices and a limited supply of fertiliser, the Food Foundation believes ‘it is more important now than ever’ that the Government take action to ensure food security in the UK is guaranteed, and that struggling families, already pushed to the brink, can afford the basic diet needed to keep them healthy.
Key findings:
- Food insecurity in the UK has increased in the last six months.
- 12% of UK households experienced food insecurity in January 2026, which includes 6.3 million adults (up from 11% in June 2025).
- 15% of households with children experienced food insecurity in January 2026, which amounts to 2.2 million children in the UK.
- 53% of food insecure households cut back on fruit, and 40% on veg in the past 30 days. For those not food insecure, this was 10% and 5.1% respectively.
Anna Taylor, executive director of The Food Foundation, commented: "Short-term firefighting won’t fix this. It’s like trying to patch a sinking ship while the storm is still building.
“What we need now is a Good Food Bill that sets out a long-term framework for building resilience in the UK food system — one that holds successive Governments to account and protects citizens and farmers alike. We should act now, before the next shock hits. Because every time we delay, the cost grows — for families, for farmers, and for the country as a whole."