Rising food prices leave many Londoners relying on food banks and unable to afford healthy diet

Londoners are increasingly relying on food banks and being priced out of a healthy diet as food inflation continues to rise.

Despite the general easing of inflation in October, the price of food increased again last month, according to the Office for National Statistics.

While the national rate dropped to 3.6%, food inflation rose to 4.9%.

Excluding September, food prices have risen every month since March — and over the last decade they have risen by a dramatic 44%.

This has put increased pressure on those living in London, where expenses are higher, and those already struggling to make ends meet.

Ziggy, who lives on her own in Hackney, explained ever since she went on benefits last February, she has been relying on food banks to survive.

She said: “Every week I am going to the supermarket and things have increased.

“It’s sad that in this day and age we have to have food banks, but without them, I would be absolutely stranded.”

John, who is also on benefits, said: “When I was working, I was spending £100 a week on food but that was quite a few years ago.

“Now, with the cost of food and all the prices going up, I couldn’t do without food banks to be honest with you.”

And it seems they are not alone. The Felix Project, who run the hubs Ziggy and John attend, said in the last year four-fifths of their organisations noticed an increase in demand.

The Trussell Trust, another London-based food bank provider, said that compared to 2019/20, they had delivered 41% more emergency parcels to children and that the number of people relying on them had increased by 29%.

However it is not just those on benefits who are feeling the effects of rising food prices.

Charlie Neal from the Felix Project said: “We are seeing more and more people who are working either part-time or full-time — as teaching assistants, nurses or in shops — who are now struggling to feed their families.”

As well as turning more Londoners towards food banks, the rise in cost also threatens people’s access to a healthy diet.

The government’s Eatwell guide says fruit and vegetables should make up a third of your diet and people should be eating fish at least twice a week.

But these items are some of the most expensive in the supermarket and have increased significantly in price over the last year.

According to the Food Foundation’s 2025 Broken Plate Report, healthier foods are now more than twice as expensive per calorie as unhealthy foods, averaging at £8.80 per 1,000 kcal compared to £4.30.

It also found that more than a third of all supermarket promotional offers were on unhealthy items.

This puts many people in a really difficult situation.

Anna Taylor, head of the Food Foundation said: “There is a tragic imbalance in the UK between food that is marketed, available and affordable, and foods that are healthy and sustainable.”

Food bank providers like the Felix Project, who supply fresh fruit and vegetables, do their best to ensure people who struggle with food insecurity still have access to a healthy diet.

And in many cases, they succeed. John said ever since he started using their food bank he had been eating more vegetables.

He added: “I take them home, prepare them and cook them from scratch – so I am being more healthy.

“I have even lost a few pounds because I am not eating takeaways and other cheaper processed food.”

But not all food banks can supply fresh produce and the statistics would suggest the reality for most people is very different.

The Broken Plate Report found that the most deprived fifth of the population would have to spend nearly half of their disposable income to afford the government’s recommended diet, rising to 70% for households with children.

And that across the UK, children from the most deprived income quintile consume 20% less fruit and vegetables than those in better financial situations.  

According to Sumi Rabindrakumar from the Trussell Trust, the harsh reality is that if you are struggling to afford food, it is very unlikely you are able to eat healthily.  

Featured image credit: NRD on Unsplash