London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Feb 10, 2025

Food workers in UK going hungry – report

Food workers in UK going hungry – report

Authors of the report called their findings a "national disgrace"
Workers in the UK food industry are increasingly on the breadline, a new report has found.

The survey by the Bakers Food & Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) revealed nearly one in five food workers rely on a food bank, while just under half have skipped meals because they don't have enough money.

Authors of the report said the "sobering" results were down to low wages and soaring energy bills.

"Our members have faced 10 years of austerity and falling wages, a pandemic and now a cost of living crisis where inflation has surged past wages and is leaving many without the means to pay for their basic needs such as food, energy and housing costs, let alone have an income to pay for the things that provide happiness, enjoyment and contentment, like a social life, recreational and family activities," they wrote.

Around 370 workers in food production, distribution and retail from across Britain were asked questions about their food, energy and housing.

The number of people eating less went from 35% to 57% compared to 2021, while 55% were worried about running out of food and 80% were eating cheaper, unhealthier meals.

"People who grow, distribute and supply our food are often unable to purchase the very food that they produce," read the report. "Workers experience food insecurity as they do not earn enough to feed themselves and their families."

The UK, like many European countries, has been battered by inflation over the last year, hitting a 41-year high in November.

Food and drink were 19.1% more expensive in March compared to the year before, while housing and bills saw a 26.1% increase over the same period, according to the Office for National Statistics Consumer Prices Index.

Poorer people spend a higher proportion of their income on basic necessities, like food and energy, meaning these price rises inflict a heavier toll.

This cost of living crisis has been blamed in large part on the Ukraine war, though other factors – such as climate change and structural issues within the British energy sector – have also played a role.


In the survey, 88% of food workers were found to be cutting back on heating to save money, which the report's authors said was having "very significant" effects on their mental and physical health.

One respondent summed up their family's circumstances as "cold and poor", describing how the home had become "a bit of a prison".

While the current cost of living crisis is certainly traceable to acute crises, the root of the problem is long-term wage stagnation, with 63% of those surveyed saying their income was insufficient to "meet basic needs".

Analysis by the Resolution Foundation found that workers in Britain are €12,700 worse off a year, following 15 years of meagre wage growth, putting the UK notably behind comparable countries such as Germany.

Those behind the report on food workers criticised the status quo and called for sweeping changes.

"The suffering of our members, the key workers who kept people fed during the pandemic and who continue to ensure people are fed all of the time, is a national disgrace," wrote the report's authors. "It is a situation that cannot be allowed to continue."

Pledging "to campaign for a right to food so that no child or adult goes hungry or feels food insecure in the 5th richest country in the world," they suggest various solutions to the crisis, including raising the minimum wage to at least €17.20 an hour.

"Our data shows clearly that people are suffering and that radical solutions are required," the report added.

In April, the government increased the minimum wage for workers aged 23 or over by 9.7% from €10.93 to €11.99 an hour.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
"Marrow stupid": Senator John Kennedy Blasts UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer Over Chagos Islands Transfer
Nigel Farage’s Reform UK Surge Reshapes Electoral Dynamics
Kemi Badenoch Faces Internal Criticism After 100 Days as Tory Leader
Campaigners Urge UK to Apologise for Forced Adoptions
Church of England Upholds Traditional Eucharistic Elements Amid Calls for Alternatives
Rayner Defends Approach at Grenfell Tower Meeting Amid Dismantling Plan
China Implements Tit-for-Tat Tariffs on US Goods Amid Trade Escalation
Italy and Wales Set for Six Nations Clash at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico
Ministry of Justice Apologises Over Prisoner Early Release Letter Error
Rare First Edition Harry Potter Book Sells for Over Twenty-One Thousand Pounds
Drax Power Station Under Scrutiny for Incomplete Wood Sourcing Reporting
UK Government Reaffirms Pledge to Build 1.5 Million New Homes by 2029
Freed Israeli Hostage Learns of Family's Death After Release from Gaza
French President Macron Employs Deepfake Technology to Advocate for AI Summit
Trump Names Musk to Investigate Government Fraud Amidst Controversy
Police Stop Ed Sheeran's Street Performance in Bengaluru
FBI Alerts Smartphone Users About Toll Scam Threat
Australian Educator Declares Identity as a Cat, Sparking Parental Backlash
Kremlin Addresses Claims of Trump-Putin Phone Conversation in Light of Ukraine Crisis
Trump Connects with Putin to Address the Ukraine Crisis
Super Bowl Ad Prices Soar to Record Highs Amid Streaming Surge
China Achieves 2030 Solar Energy Targets Early, Cuts Subsidies for Renewable Energy
Trump Signs Executive Order Prioritizing White South African Refugees
Europe Faces Growing Security Concerns and Trump's New Demands on Ukraine
Trump Revokes Security Clearances of Biden Officials, Including Blinken and Sullivan
Justin Bieber Sparks Concern as New Footage Raises Health Fears
European Right-Wing Leaders Celebrate Trump’s Impact on Global Politics
Trump Administration Directs Admiral to Leave Official Residence Within Three Hours
British Health Secretary Andrew Gavin Fired Over Controversial Messages
Report: Iran Attempted to Assassinate Trump During Election Campaign
Trump Declares He Won't Deport Prince Harry, 'He's Already Dealing with Enough Issues with His Wife,' He Comments.
Macron's AI Vision Encounters Hindrance in the Global Technology Competition.
TikTok Sued Over Alleged Child Deaths Caused by 'Blackout Challenge'
Governments Prohibit DeepSeek AI Due to National Security Issues
Russian musician Vadim Stroykin passes away following an apparent fall during a police raid.
Zelensky Suggests Mineral Collaboration with Trump for Security Assistance
Naomi Campbell Claims Unawareness of Financial Irregularities at Fashion for Relief.
House Republican Introduces Bill Aimed at Limiting AI Exports to China
Trump Signs Executive Order Prohibiting Transgender Athletes from Competing in Women's Sports
Intense Pressure Builds for a Free Trade Agreement Between the UK and GCC in Light of Economic Difficulties
UAE Aids in the Transfer of 300 Prisoners Between Russia and Ukraine.
Trump Suggests U.S. 'Takeover' of Gaza, Sparking Global Worries
At least ten fatalities reported in Swedish school shooting, authorities confirm.
EU Reveals Significant Advances on Special Tribunal for Prosecuting Vladimir Putin
Trump Administration Preparing Executive Order to Abolish the Department of Education
Trump's Gaza Plan Provokes Global Debate
Spain Endorses Initiative to Cut Working Week to 37.5 Hours
Australia Prohibits DeepSeek AI on Government Devices Due to Security Issues
Trump Warns of Tariffs on EU Products, Labels Bloc an 'Atrocity' in Trade Matters
Zelenskyy Proposes Nuclear Arsenal if NATO Membership Lingers.
×