One in ten in poorest areas run out of food

One in ten people living in the poorest areas have run out of food in the past year because of a lack of money, a Scottish Government report has revealed.

While only 1 per cent of people living in the most affluent communities reported having nothing left to eat in the previous 12 months, new figures on food insecurity showed this increased to 10 per cent in the most deprived areas.

Almost a fifth (18 per cent) of those living in the worst-off areas had been worried about running out of food over the past year, with 21 per cent of single parents reporting this as a concern. The findings emerged from the 2017 Scottish Health Survey, which for the first time included questions on food insecurity. Campaigners said the results “paint a grim picture of hunger across the country”.

Almost 3,700 adults and just over 1,600 children across Scotland took part in the 2017 survey, with the findings also showing increased consumption of fruit and vegetables.

Almost a quarter (24 per cent) of adults ate the recommended five portions a day – the highest total since 2003.