'Cash-strapped Britons buying fewer vegetables'

Almost half of low-income families are buying fewer vegetables, states a new report, as inflation and rising prices continue to impact Britons.

According to a progress report from the Food Foundation, inflation and rising prices have taken their toll on UK consumers, with almost half of low-income families buying fewer vegetables since inflation in veg prices is running at almost 14 per cent compared with around seven per cent for sweets and chocolate.

The report also showed a widening nutrition gulf between rich and poor- among those earning less than £10,000 the proportion of vegetables in the shopping basket fell in the past year while for those earning over £70,000 it remained the same despite rising prices.

On top of that, businesses have been dealing with aftermath of Covid, supply chain problems and an increasing number of extreme weather events that lead to crop yield failures – highlighting the worsening impact of climate change.

The newly published report in collaboration from Peas Please, a diet-changing partnership led by the food and sustainability charity, has revealed that more than 100 supermarkets have signed up to tackle Britain’s public health and environmental crisis by boosting vegetable consumption.

“This has been a difficult year for food businesses and households, and things are likely to get worse as the cost-of-living crisis deepens,” senior business and investor engagement manager at The Food Foundation, Rebecca Tobi said.

She added: “Although we have seen Peas Please progress stall this year with worrying indications that families are having to cut back on veg, it is encouraging to see many of our pledgers continuing to work to champion veg.

“It has never been more important to make sure that households are still able to access and afford vegetables, with decisive action from the retail and out of home sectors to protect veg from the worst effects of the cost-of-living crisis urgently needed in 2023.”