Too expensive for many: The real cost of eating healthily

In an open letter to the prime minister, public health experts say that eating healthy proves to be extremely expensive for a lot of people.

13:24 01 May 2014

Due to rising food prices, falling wages, and a boom in food banks, the UK Faculty of Public Health claim that the real cost of eating healthily proves to be not affordable for many. 

 

In an open letter to the prime minister, the group said that the situation is worsening and urged the government to set up an independent group to conduct investigations. 

 

However, the government responded by saying that problems are getting better.

 

Faculty president Prof John Ashton said: "Increasing numbers of people on low wages are not earning enough money to meet their most basic nutritional needs for maintaining a healthy diet.

 

"We should not accept this in the UK, the world's sixth largest economy and the third largest in Europe.

 

"An affordable nutritious diet is a prerequisite for health.

 

"We view the rise of food poverty as indicating the reversal of what was a long process of improvement in food availability and affordability since World War Two."

 

A government spokesperson said that the nation's money troubles are on the mend:  "This country is only just recovering from the worst recession of our time and we know that families were hit hard.

 

"That is why we cut taxes on jobs, on fuel, on council tax and on childcare, helping the lowest paid the most.

 

"One of the best ways to alleviate the pressures that hard-working families face is through our relentless drive to grow the economy, cut taxes and get people back into work as part of our long-term economic plan."