Low Incomes Families Need To Spend £153 A Week To Eat Healthily

Families on low incomes or social welfare in Northern Ireland need to spend almost half of their weekly budget to eat healthily, according to new findings.

A study, by the Food Standards Agency in Northern Ireland, revealed families made up of two parents, a teenager and a child in primary school need to spend up to £153 a week.

Sharon Gilmore, Head of Standards and Dietary Health at the Food Standards Agency in NI said: "The report highlights the stark reality that low income households here need to spend up to 44% of their weekly take home income in order to purchase a minimum acceptable standard of food, while also meeting their nutrition and social needs.

"Food poverty is complex. It affects those living on low incomes, with limited access to transport and poor cooking skills while many people in the same situation continue to have a healthy diet in spite of these obstacles.

"In trying to make a limited household budget go further by compromising on healthy foods, some households are ending up nutritionally poor."

Dr Cliodhna Foley-Nolan, Director, Human Health & Nutrition, safefood said: "Families on a low-income tend to eat less well, have poorer health outcomes with higher levels of obesity. In general, cheaper foods and takeaways are simply less nutritious. This presents a real challenge for parents when it comes to food shopping and planning for the week."

(CD/LM)