Over six million adults experienced food insecurity in January 2026, according to an online survey conducted by The Food Foundation. The survey, carried out by YouGov between January 23 and February 3, 2026, polled 6,055 adults and found that 12.04 percent of households faced food insecurity. This marks the 18th questionnaire in a series commissioned by The Food Foundation since the COVID-19 pandemic to monitor food insecurity across UK households.
Comparison with Previous Data
In comparison, January 2025 data showed 13.9 percent of households experiencing food insecurity, indicating a slight decrease. However, over six million adults still report inadequate access to food.
Disability and Food Insecurity
The survey highlights a significant disparity among households with disabled adults. Households with an adult limited a lot by a disability are more likely to experience food insecurity than those without. Specifically, 28.4 percent of households limited a lot by a disability reported food insecurity, compared to 14.9 percent of those limited a little and 9.1 percent of those not limited by disability.
Between January 2025 and January 2026, the percentage of households not limited by disability experiencing food insecurity dropped by 0.8 percent. For households limited a little by disability, the decrease was 3.4 percent. Those limited a lot by disability saw a reduction from 34.6 percent to 28.4 percent.
Implications
The findings underscore ongoing challenges in food access, particularly for vulnerable groups. The Food Foundation continues to advocate for policy changes to address these inequalities.
