UK Food Poverty Crisis Looms as Drought and Heatwaves Devastate Harvests

The UK is bracing itself for a food poverty crisis as drought and heatwaves devastate harvests, pushing vulnerable families to the brink.

A fourth heatwave and prolonged drought have wreaked havoc on British agriculture, with woeful salad crops, early cereal harvests, and broccoli yields severely impacted. The UK's reliance on imports is also being felt, with fierce wildfires in the continent affecting production of everything from olives to wheat.

Wholesale prices have skyrocketed, with tomatoes up 60%, iceberg lettuce by 90%, and potatoes over 40%. The Bank of England forecasts food price inflation will rise to 3.5% before the end of the year, while think tank The Autonomy Institute warns that climate disruption could push fruit and veg prices even higher.

Almost a quarter (24%) of UK families with children under five are now experiencing food poverty, skipping meals, eating less, or losing weight because they can't afford food. Food banks are scrambling to meet demand, with 6.5 million adults and 2.2 million children living in food-insecure households.

Campaigners are calling on the government to expand its NHS Healthy Start scheme to provide eligible low-income families with at least £4.65 per week towards the cost of fruit, vegetables, milk, and pulses. The scheme is underused, with between a quarter and a third of all eligible families not signed up.