Food Insecurity
Food Insecurity as a Public Health Priority – Webinar
Delivered jointly by the FPH Food Special Interest Group and the FPH Poverty Special Interest Group.
“Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.” World Food Summit, 1996.
In the UK, food insecurity is a reality for many, with levels rising with the current cost of living pressures. According to survey data from the Food Foundation, in September 2022 over 18% of households in the UK were experiencing food insecurity, a figure that rises to over 25% for households with children. These rates are higher than levels seen at the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, and more than double what they were in January 2022.
These figures are a significant concern, but what do they mean from a public health perspective? How do we define Food Insecurity, and what is the Public Health role in addressing it?
This webinar examined food insecurity in the UK through a public health lens: what it means, how it is measured, who it affects in our society, and what the health and wellbeing impacts are across the life course. The webinar then covers examples of practical approaches for addressing food insecurity at a local and regional level.
Access the slides from the webinar:
- Food Insecurity as a public health issue, Kristin Bash
- Food Insecurity as a Public Health Priority: Framing the Solutions with Food Ladders, Megan Blake
- A whole systems approach: Public Health Interventions on Food Insecurity - an example from Liverpool, Naomi Maynard
Access the summary of survey results and impact: