In January 2023, food insecurity rates are higher in these households than those with only school-age (23%) or no children at all (17%).
These figures come in light of new Government data that showed the NHS Business Services Authority had missed its target of 75% uptake for its Healthy Start scheme, with only 64% of eligible parents and carers on average accessing the scheme across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
These nations fell well behind uptake for Scotland’s equivalent scheme, ‘Best Start Foods’, which was claimed by 88% eligible parents and carers in 2021-2022.
Government commitments needed
The Food Foundation called on Government to commit GBP £5m of funding for a comprehensive communications campaigns campaign to help improve awareness and uptake of Healthy Start, as well as increase its allowance in line with food price inflation alongside other government benefits.
Anna Taylor, executive director of The Food Foundation, said: “Debilitating food price rises are making it incredibly challenging for low-income young families to afford a healthy diet. This is extremely concerning given how important good nutrition is for young children’s growth and development.
Healthy Start is a highly-targeted scheme that should be helping families most in need, but pitifully low uptake levels mean there are families all over the country who are missing out on this statutory scheme. Much more needs to be done by government to make sure uptake improves – implementing the recommendations set out in the National Food Strategy is a good place to start.”
Promote Healthy Start
The Food Foundation is also calling on retailers to promote the Healthy Start Scheme to raise awareness among eligible customers.
Vera Zakharov, local action coordinator at food security advocacy group Sustain, said: “Food prices are at a record high, with some fruit and vegetable lines up to 25% more expensive in the wake of recent shortages.
“Now more than ever families with young children need the benefits they’re entitled to, which is why it’s so disappointing that the government has missed its own target of 75% uptake of Healthy Start by March 2023.
“Frontline health workers and local authorities are working hard to reach eligible families but they need government to play its part. Government needs to increase the value of the payments in line with inflation and commit to an information campaign so eligible families know how they can claim the free fruit, vegetables and milk they’re entitled to.”
Meanwhile, Bethan Grylls summarises the key takeaways from our series of fireside chats presented last month, sponsored by RSSL, as five food and drink leaders lend their expertise on maintaining and working towards a more secure, safer food and drink system.
