Dietary inequalities in the UK have deepened over the past two years, with healthier food becoming increasingly unaffordable, according to the latest Broken Plate report by The Food Foundation. The report, funded by The Nuffield Foundation, paints a stark picture of a food system that is worsening health inequalities rather than addressing them.
The report found that healthier foods are now more than twice as expensive per calorie as less healthy options. Over the past two years, the cost of healthier food has risen at twice the rate of unhealthy food, further restricting access for lower-income households. The figures suggest that the most deprived fifth of the population would need to spend 45% of their disposable income to afford a government-recommended healthy diet—a figure that jumps to 70% for households with children. Although this has fallen from the peak of the cost-of-living crisis (50% in 2021-22), it remains higher than the pre-crisis level (43% in 2020-21).
The report highlights structural issues in the UK’s food system that contribute to poor health outcomes, particularly among deprived communities. Key findings include:
- Supermarket promotions: Over 37% of food and drink promotions are for unhealthy items, making them more accessible and appealing.
- Fast-food dominance: A quarter (26%) of all food outlets in England are fast-food establishments, rising to nearly one in three in the most deprived areas.
- Advertising bias: Over 36% of food and drink advertising spend is directed towards confectionery, snacks, desserts, and soft drinks, compared to a mere 2% for fruit and vegetables.
The consequences of this unhealthy food environment are particularly evident in children’s health. Children across all income groups are consuming significantly fewer healthy foods and more unhealthy foods than recommended. However, those from the most deprived backgrounds face even greater challenges:
- Lower fruit and vegetable consumption: The most deprived children eat 20% less fruit and veg than their wealthier peers (2.1 portions per day vs. 2.6 portions).
- Higher obesity rates: By their first year of school, children in the most deprived fifth of the population are nearly twice as likely to be living with obesity compared to those in the least deprived fifth.
- Increased health complications: Deprived groups are far more likely to suffer from type 2 diabetes, with those in the lowest income bracket being three times more likely to experience a lower-limb amputation due to diabetes-related complications.
- Poor dental health: By the end of primary school, children in the most deprived areas are more than twice as likely to suffer from tooth decay in their adult teeth (23%) compared to their more affluent counterparts (10%).
Anna Taylor, Executive Director of The Food Foundation, said: “The Broken Plate report sadly shows that our food system is failing to provide large swathes of the population with the basic nutrition needed for them to stay healthy and thrive.
“There is a tragic imbalance in the UK between the food that is marketed, available and affordable, and foods that are healthy and sustainable.
“Often it is the most vulnerable children in our society who suffer the worst consequences of this. Not only can lack of nutrition lead to serious health conditions, it can also lead to children being unable to concentrate in school and have lasting negative impact on mental health, entrenching inequalities from a young age.
Henry Dimbleby, the former government food tsar and author of the last National Food Strategy, said: “This report couldn’t come at a more critical moment.
“As the government rolls out its new food strategy, addressing the incentives that drive the sale and aggressive marketing of unhealthy foods must be a top priority. The human and economic toll is too great to ignore any longer.”
