FED UP WITH NO VITAMINS

Cheap processed food is linked to hospital admission spike

- MARTIN BAGOT

CHEAP processed food is being linked to hospital admission surges for problems caused by a lack of vital vitamins.

GPs say a dramatic rise in cases of anaemia, caused by a lack of iron and vitamin B in nutrient-poor diets, is creating a health crisis and is unacceptable in the UK.

Low-income families often find processed foods high in sugar, salt and additives are cheaper than fresh meat, fruit and veg.

NHS data shows the number of hospital admissions in England where a lack of iron was the main reason rose almost 10-fold between 1998/99 and 2023/24 - from 20,396 to 191,927. The higher figure was 11% up on the 173,227 of the year before.

For 2,630 admissions in 2023/24, B vitamin deficiency was the main reason, up 15% on 2022/23 and more than triple the 833 admissions in 1998/1999.