Warning low-paid face paying for either heat or food

PEOPLE living in disadvantaged areas will have to choose between feeding their family or warming them this winter, the Institute of Public Health (IPH) has warned.

Dr Kevin Balanda, IPH associate director, said people on lower incomes are reducing their food budget in order to pay rent, with increasing prices putting more pressure on families.

Research from the IPH, published yesterday, shows that one in five adults in disadvantaged areas cut their weekly food spending to pay other household bills such as rent, electricity and gas.

Dr Balanda said this figure was set to increase and the outlook for these people was bleak.

“In many poorer households, food expenditure is the only discretionary budget item,” he said.

“And as we confirmed in our study, it is often reduced to avoid debt or to pay other household bills.”

The IPH evaluation of Decent Food for All (DFfA) — an all-Ireland project to improve community diet and health — recommends that efforts to tackle food poverty and obesity must be linked to anti-poverty and social inclusion initiatives.

It found where people live and shop had a greater impact on their diet than their own individual awareness and attitudes.

Dr Balanda said the evaluation, recorded in disadvantaged areas over four years, was indicative of what was happening in similar communities across the country.

“The aim of the project was to reduce food poverty and improve health in the target communities,” he said.

“The scheme delivered 370 core activities to 3,100 residents including local education talks on diet, cookery workshops, fresh fruit in schools, healthy food tastings and information stands.

One in eight residents in the target areas participated in at least one of these activities.

The IPH maintains a national policy is needed to address issues such as the planning of food stores, food marketing, particularly when aimed at children, and clarity in food labelling.