More than a quarter of UK adults have skipped meals, gone without food to feed their family or relied on relatives or friends to provide over the last year, according to a survey.
Some 40% of UK households say their situation has worsened over the past 12 months, the poll for Tesco, foodbank charity The Trussell Trust and food redistribution charity FareShare found.
More than a quarter (27%) have found it harder to feed their families over the last year, 20% have skipped a meal as a result of not being able to afford food and 30% say they have either skipped meals, gone without or relied on family or friends to provide food, the poll to mark the annual Neighbourhood Food Collection found.
FareShare chief executive Lindsay Boswell said: “This shocking research confirms what we’re seeing on the ground: people across the country are finding it incredibly tough.
“We’re now supporting more than 1,000 frontline charities that offer a hot meal and invaluable support to 51,000 people every day.”
Tesco UK managing director Chris Bush said: “Signs are that the economy is improving, but we know consumers are not feeling it in their pockets just yet. We want to use our scale for the benefit of the communities we serve, and through our Neighbourhood Food Collection we are working with charities that are supporting the most vulnerable.”
The Neighbourhood Food Collection will take place in every Tesco store from November 29 to December 1.