Food poverty is fixable — with some creative thinking

Fruit and vegetable vouchers on prescription and local food initiatives are exactly the kind of pragmatic response that is needed during an ongoing cost of living crisis, writes Catherine Conlon

Responsibility for ensuring everyone can eat in a way that is not damaging to their health does not just lie with retailers. Governments have a critical role to play in tackling both the cost of living crisis and ensuring everyone can access and afford the food they need.

The cost of living crisis is likely to be negatively impacting on diets and widening health inequalities — but there are solutions.

The outlook of the Irish economy has improved but high prices continue to pose a cost of living challenge for households, the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) said in its latest report. Inflation is expected to moderate ‘considerably’ in the coming months, averaging 4.5% this year and 3.5% next year, a downgrade from the previous predictions of 7.1% for 2023.