Over two million children in the United Kingdom are directly experiencing food insecurity, according to recent research by the Food Foundation. The charity's survey, conducted in January 2026 among 6,055 adults, found that 2.1 million children are facing this issue, representing 13.3 percent of UK households with children.
Key Findings from the Survey
The Food Foundation's January 2026 survey also revealed that 9.9 percent of households with children relied on low-cost food, 4.6 percent did not have balanced meals, 2.2 percent did not have enough to eat, and 1.4 percent skipped meals. These statistics highlight the severity of food insecurity among families.
Impact on Different Household Types
The data showed that a quarter of households with four or more children are food insecure. Single adult households with children were more than twice as likely to be food insecure compared to households without children. Specifically, 24.9 percent of single adult households with children reported food insecurity, versus 14.2 percent of multi-adult households with children. For households without children, the figure was 10.9 percent.
Broader Context
Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, the Food Foundation has commissioned a series of nationally representative surveys to assess household food insecurity across the UK. The charity regularly tracks and reports on the experiences of specific groups, including families with children, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, and benefit recipients.
If you have been affected by this issue or have a similar story to share, contact Hannah Ahmed at hannah.ahmed@reachplc.com.
