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Feed are greatly concerned by the cost of living crisis facing families in the UK, and, as a member of the Inequalities in Health Alliance, we are one of the 200 organisations calling for a cross government strategy to reduce health inequalities. The Marmot review demonstrated the widening health inequalities and the impact this is having on life expectancy especially for women (1, 2). One of the signs of the rising cost of living is the number of people turning to food banks. The Trussell Trust saw a 14% rise in food parcels between 2021 and 2022 compared to the previous year, with 832,000 parcels handed out for children (3). Research around food bank use in Scotland has shown the concern around the rising numbers of mothers and children turning to food banks as a particularly vulnerable emergent group (4, 5).
As an independent charity who supports families with all modes of infant feeding, we are particularly concerned by the impact of poverty on the health and wellbeing of infants. Feed recently conducted an inquiry into the barriers faced by families trying to access formula milk for formula fed infants (6). The inquiry highlighted the difficulties families with young infants face in accessing formula; forced to make difficult choices between feeding, heating, clothing, and travel. The inquiry echoed a similar findings by APPGIFI inquiry into formula poverty, which demonstrated similar findings in 2018 of risky infant feeding practices when access is restricted which may impact on infant health (7). Feed have made a number of recommendations in order to maximise pathways for families in poverty (6, 8). This includes adopting guidelines to support food and baby banks in the provision of first infant formula to formula fed infants in poverty. We have worked closely with stakeholders to develop guidance for this. It also includes exploring other routes such as the possibility of pharmacy provision, and ensuring local authority pathways are fully formed and comprehensive.
We recognise whilst food and baby banks play a crucial role in supporting families throughout the increasing cost of living crisis, they are not a long-term solution to poverty. Our inquiry highlighted the urgent need for a top down approach to the cost of living in order to tackle the root causes of health inequalities in the UK and the subsequent impact on health. Thus, we stand with IHA in urging the government to commit to taking action to improve the social determinants of health.
Dr Rosie McNee and Dr Erin Williams
Co-Founders Feed
1. Marmot M. Fair society, healthy lives. Fair society, healthy lives. 2013:1-74.
2. Marmot M. Health equity in England: the Marmot review 10 years on. Bmj. 2020 Feb 25;368.
3. Trussell Trust end of year stats 2022 available at End of Year Stats - The Trussell Trust
4. Douglas F, etc al. Resourcefulness, Desperation, Shame, Gratitude and Powerlessness: Common Themes Emerging from A Study of Food Bank Use in Northeast Scotland. AIMS Public Health. 2015 Jul.
5. Douglas F, et al. "A Lot of People Are Struggling Privately. They Don't Know Where to Go or They're Not Sure of What to Do": Frontline Service Provider Perspectives of the Nature of Household Food Insecurity in Scotland. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018 Dec
6. Feed 2022. Access to infant formula for babies living in food poverty in the UK. From Feed+Inquiry+Report+-+FINAL+22.05.03.pdf (squarespace.com)
7. All Party Parliamentary Group on Infant Feeding (2018) Inquiry report into the cost of infant formula in the UK from http://www.infantfeedingappg.uk/wpcontent/uploads/2018/11/APPGIFI-Inquir...
8. Feed (2020) The provision of infant formula at food banks in the UK at https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5efa4a95af311446a53c8cab/t/5fd099... 506207266/Feed+report+on+formula+at+foodbanks+-+December+9th+2020.pdf
Re: Rising cost of living is damaging people’s health, says royal college
Dear Editor,
Feed are greatly concerned by the cost of living crisis facing families in the UK, and, as a member of the Inequalities in Health Alliance, we are one of the 200 organisations calling for a cross government strategy to reduce health inequalities. The Marmot review demonstrated the widening health inequalities and the impact this is having on life expectancy especially for women (1, 2). One of the signs of the rising cost of living is the number of people turning to food banks. The Trussell Trust saw a 14% rise in food parcels between 2021 and 2022 compared to the previous year, with 832,000 parcels handed out for children (3). Research around food bank use in Scotland has shown the concern around the rising numbers of mothers and children turning to food banks as a particularly vulnerable emergent group (4, 5).
As an independent charity who supports families with all modes of infant feeding, we are particularly concerned by the impact of poverty on the health and wellbeing of infants. Feed recently conducted an inquiry into the barriers faced by families trying to access formula milk for formula fed infants (6). The inquiry highlighted the difficulties families with young infants face in accessing formula; forced to make difficult choices between feeding, heating, clothing, and travel. The inquiry echoed a similar findings by APPGIFI inquiry into formula poverty, which demonstrated similar findings in 2018 of risky infant feeding practices when access is restricted which may impact on infant health (7). Feed have made a number of recommendations in order to maximise pathways for families in poverty (6, 8). This includes adopting guidelines to support food and baby banks in the provision of first infant formula to formula fed infants in poverty. We have worked closely with stakeholders to develop guidance for this. It also includes exploring other routes such as the possibility of pharmacy provision, and ensuring local authority pathways are fully formed and comprehensive.
We recognise whilst food and baby banks play a crucial role in supporting families throughout the increasing cost of living crisis, they are not a long-term solution to poverty. Our inquiry highlighted the urgent need for a top down approach to the cost of living in order to tackle the root causes of health inequalities in the UK and the subsequent impact on health. Thus, we stand with IHA in urging the government to commit to taking action to improve the social determinants of health.
Dr Rosie McNee and Dr Erin Williams
Co-Founders Feed
1. Marmot M. Fair society, healthy lives. Fair society, healthy lives. 2013:1-74.
2. Marmot M. Health equity in England: the Marmot review 10 years on. Bmj. 2020 Feb 25;368.
3. Trussell Trust end of year stats 2022 available at End of Year Stats - The Trussell Trust
4. Douglas F, etc al. Resourcefulness, Desperation, Shame, Gratitude and Powerlessness: Common Themes Emerging from A Study of Food Bank Use in Northeast Scotland. AIMS Public Health. 2015 Jul.
5. Douglas F, et al. "A Lot of People Are Struggling Privately. They Don't Know Where to Go or They're Not Sure of What to Do": Frontline Service Provider Perspectives of the Nature of Household Food Insecurity in Scotland. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018 Dec
6. Feed 2022. Access to infant formula for babies living in food poverty in the UK. From Feed+Inquiry+Report+-+FINAL+22.05.03.pdf (squarespace.com)
7. All Party Parliamentary Group on Infant Feeding (2018) Inquiry report into the cost of infant formula in the UK from http://www.infantfeedingappg.uk/wpcontent/uploads/2018/11/APPGIFI-Inquir...
8. Feed (2020) The provision of infant formula at food banks in the UK at https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5efa4a95af311446a53c8cab/t/5fd099... 506207266/Feed+report+on+formula+at+foodbanks+-+December+9th+2020.pdf
Competing interests: No competing interests