Food poverty: Thousands of Londoners turn to food banks

By Cynara Vetch

London has been called One of the Best Food Cities in the world, the capital hosts a bewildering range of food options which appear to suit every budget. The reality is however that thousands of Londoners are unable to afford the most basic of meals. From 2016 to March of this year the Trussell Trust provided over 100,000 emergency food supplies through the London region.

Professionals working in social care, education and health institutions refer people to the "food banks". Once referred individuals are entitled to three days worth of food which has been selected to provide adequate nutrition for its recipients. This year across the country the number of those that need this assistance has risen with approximately 74,000 more cases than 2015 to 2016.

In a report titled Food Capital: Ten Years Of London Leadership Rosie Boycott, chairman of the London Food Board, admitted that "Food banks and food poverty shame our city". Around 27% of Londoners are living in poverty according to the Trust For London. The City may hold it's share of Michelin Star restaurants but these are only accessible to the very few, the top 10% of Londoners own 50% of the capital's wealth.

Programs are being rolled out to tackle the issue of food poverty. With funding from the Mayor of London three social supermarkets have been set up in: Haringey, Enfield and Lambeth. These shops sell food for a third of the standard price that would have otherwise been sent to a landfill site. The food must be in good condition and before its used by date but has been rejected for reasons such as over production or poor packaging. Local food production and school meals are also some areas that the government and community organisations are supporting.

As efforts are made to address the issue a quarter of Londoners will continue to worry about where their next meal will come from.