Healthy food prices have surged at twice the rate of junk food, deepening the divide between affordability and nutrition

A new study has revealed a troubling trend: the price of healthy food has risen at double the rate of junk food in recent years, making nutritious meals increasingly out of reach for many families. The research, conducted by the Food Foundation, shows that healthy meals now cost twice as much per calorie as their less-healthy counterparts, exacerbating existing health inequalities across the UK.

Experts have warned of a “tragic imbalance” between affordable and nutritious food, with the cost of eating healthily becoming a barrier for millions. Over the past two years, healthier food options have increased in price at twice the rate of junk food, and this price gap is only widening. At the same time, food manufacturers and retailers continue to promote unhealthy options aggressively, with more than a third of food and soft drink advertising spent on confectionery, snacks, and sugary drinks, compared to just 2% for fruits and vegetables.

The study also highlights a disturbing trend in England, where one-quarter of all food outlets are fast-food establishments, and in more deprived areas, this rises to a third. The report found that the most deprived fifth of the population would need to spend a staggering 45% of their disposable income to afford a government-recommended healthy diet. For households with children, this figure jumps to 70%.

Children from poorer backgrounds are suffering the most, with those from the lowest-income households consuming 20% less fruit and vegetables than their wealthier peers. Furthermore, children from disadvantaged backgrounds are nearly twice as likely to be obese, exacerbating the health inequalities that have long plagued society.

Anna Taylor from the Food Foundation described the findings as a reflection of a “broken food system,” one that fails to provide large swathes of the population with the nutrition necessary for a healthy life. “Not only can lack of nutrition lead to serious health conditions, but it also affects children’s ability to concentrate in school and negatively impacts their mental health, reinforcing inequalities from a young age,” she said.

Henry Dimbleby, the former food tsar, emphasized that Britain stands at a “critical moment” in its food strategy. He called for immediate government action to address the incentives driving the sale and aggressive marketing of unhealthy foods, stressing that the economic and human toll of the current system is too great to ignore.

The Food Foundation is calling for new policies, including taxes to encourage healthier food reformulation and a removal of VAT on healthy meals in restaurants. They are also advocating for stricter restrictions on unhealthy food advertising, particularly to children.

Daniel Zeichner, the minister for food security, acknowledged the challenges but reiterated the government’s commitment to transforming the food system. “We cannot do this alone,” he said, stressing the importance of working with experts across the food sector to build a more sustainable and equitable industry for the future.