Rising Cost Of Food Will Push More Families To Food Banks

Labour has warned of a "cost of living tsunami" as families face price rises of up to 50 per cent on everyday grocery items.

- Samuel Lovett

Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that the cheapest pasta rose by 50 per cent in the 12 months to April, while the average price of bread, minced beef, rice and crisps increased by more than 15 per cent.

Charities say the increase will see more of the poorest families turn to food banks as households struggle with the brunt of the cost of living crisis, which has driven up energy bills, rent prices and food costs. The price hikes come after The Independent revealed how tens of thousands of Britain's poorest families stand to miss out on help measures introduced by the chancellor Rishi Sunak thanks to the benefits cap.

Jonathan Ashworth, shadow secretary of state for work and pensions, said: "Prices are soaring while struggling families are cutting back or even turning to food banks. Tory MPs last month cut universal credit in real terms after slashing it by £20 a week last year. This is a cost of living tsunami caused by years of Tory economic mismanagement."

Sabine Goodwin, coordinator of the Independent Food Aid Network (IFAN), said: "Increasing staple food prices combined with rising costs in energy are inevitably going to put yet more pressure on low-income households and in turn increase the need for food banks. The chancellor's cash-first interventions are very welcome but they don't go far enough given the scale of the UK's long-standing poverty crisis."