More than a third of people in Wales's poorest areas struggle to get hold of healthy food, according to a Senedd Committee.
The Equality and Social Justice Committee says urgent action is needed to help the 37% of people in Wales’ most deprived communities who are food insecure - meaning they lack quality, variety or enough food in their diet.
The Food for Thought report, published today, makes seven recommendations the next Welsh Government must adopt to make healthy food affordable and accessible.
The Committee heard evidence that food contributes to a significant gap in healthy life expectancy between Wales's richest and poorest communities.
Janet Hayward, who runs the Big Bocs Bwyd food project, told the Committee:
“Between Cadoxton and Cowbridge, there is a 20-year difference in healthy life expectancy which is just huge, and we know that's largely because of the food that our children are eating. As well as not having enough food, it's about having the right food.
“Every child in a primary school in Wales is entitled to a free school meal now. It looks different in each local authority. We know that schools in Wales don't have enough money. We know that children need to have the right food, but what's going on in our school kitchens isn't entirely fit for purpose.”
Jenny Rathbone MS, Chair of the Equality and Social Justice Committee said:
“It is shameful that far too many people struggle to afford and access healthy food in one of the richest countries in the world. The consequences for the health of our nation is calamitous. Government must act to face down powerful vested interests.
“Our inquiry set out to understand how we move beyond what started as a crisis response to a preventative, system-wide approach that puts dignity, health and resilience at its core.
“We heard consistent messages: invest in horticulture and local food distribution networks, put schools and communities at the heart of change, embed “cash first” principles around good food, and ensure long term support for local food partnerships. This report sets out our conclusions and recommendations to ensure every part of Wales has access to healthy, affordable food.”
Tackling food insecurity
The Food Standards Agency’s latest report revealed that 21% of Welsh respondents were food insecure. In the most deprived areas that rises to 37% of respondents compared to 13% in the least deprived areas.
Being food insecure means someone with low food security (reduced quality, variety, or desirability of diet); or very low food security (multiple indications of disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake).
Food and Fun, a school holiday programme, providing more than 14,000 free meals a day to children across Wales last summer, was championed by many witnesses, and community projects are already making a difference in Wales, including Big Bocs Bwyd, which provides pay-as-you-feel food hubs.
But the Committee recommends the next Welsh Government should work with local partners to help address the financial challenges many community food providers face. It should ensure funding is available to support successful organisations to carry on operating, including meeting core running costs, and to scale up approaches which are proven to work.
