How UK households tackle unaffordable food prices

The Social Market Foundation released a new report today entitled 'What are the barriers to eating healthily in the UK?', focusing on what they term 'food deserts' - areas in the UK that are "poorly served by food stores" where "individuals without a car or with disabilities that hinder mobility may find it difficult to easily access a wide range of healthy, affordable food products". According to the report, about one in ten deprived areas in England and Wales can be classed as a 'food desert'.

Also covered in the report are the ways in which UK households tackle high/unaffordable food prices. As our chart shows, the most common change made is pretty innocuous - starting to shop in a cheaper store - however 7 percent said they have borrowed money to pay for food and 10 percent have had to resort to consuming less so that other members of their family can eat. Food banks have been used by 3 percent of all households, while this rises to 6 percent for those earning £10,000 or less per year.