The latest Food Standards Agency Consumer Insights Tracker highlights a concern that will resonate with households across the country: despite inflation easing from its recent peaks, food prices remain the public’s single biggest food-related worry. An overwhelming 91% of respondents said they were concerned about the cost of food, a figure that has remained consistently high since the survey began in 2023. While only around one in four people said they were worried about affording food over the next month, the findings suggest many families continue to feel under sustained financial pressure.
Perhaps more worrying is how people are responding. To save money, many admitted adopting habits that increase food safety risks. Nearly two-thirds said they had eaten food beyond its use-by-date, while 60% had consumed leftovers that had been stored in the fridge for more than two days. Others reported reheating leftovers multiple times, reducing the amount of food they purchased, or switching off ovens before cooking had fully finished in an effort to cut energy bills. These are understandable responses to rising household costs, but they underline the difficult choices many families continue to face.
The findings reinforce the need for food policy to be treated as a central part of economic policy rather than a niche issue. Food affordability affects public health, educational attainment, workforce productivity and ultimately demand on public services. Ensuring families can access safe, nutritious and affordable food is therefore not simply a matter of social policy... it is an investment in the nation’s long-term resilience. Government also has a role in supporting domestic food production, improving supply chain resilience and helping consumers make informed choices while maintaining the UK’s high food safety standards.
The Food Standards Agency is right to accompany these findings with practical advice through its “Stop. Think. Serve.” campaign, helping households reduce waste without compromising food safety. However, education alone cannot solve the underlying problem. The persistence of concern over food prices shows that affordability remains one of the defining challenges facing consumers.
As policymakers develop future strategies for agriculture, public health and economic growth, ensuring that good-quality food remains affordable for everyone should remain firmly at the top of the agenda.
