Food insecurity is increasing in UK households, with climate change, inflation and Brexit contributing to the problem, according to a new government report.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) study found that poorer, younger and disabled people are being hit hardest by these challenges.

The amount of UK households deemed “highly food secure” dropped from 87% in 2019/20 to 83% in 2022/23, while the number of households able to afford a balanced diet dropped from 92% to 90% over the same period.

Young people suffer the most from poor food security, with households headed by 16 to 24-year-olds receiving the poorest rating, while the poorest households consume 42% fewer fruits and vegetables than recommended on average. 

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In England, the highest rates of food insecurity were found in the North West, followed by the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber, and the West Midlands.

The report said: “There has been a notable decrease in food-secure households, which has coincided with increased financial pressures to household budgets from both high general inflation and high food inflation.”

Defra identified several key factors threatening access to food and a balanced diet in the UK, including climate breakdown, rising food prices and Brexit. 

It also highlighted that food inflation in the UK reached its highest point in 45 years, surpassing general consumer price inflation.

The report continued: “The events of the last three years show a trend of high volatility or weakened stability. The impact of geopolitical and climate events has been to drive up prices of inputs to food production, such as energy and fertiliser and food itself. This has created a challenging business environment for the food sector.”