Food bank users ‘asking for non-cook food because of energy cost fears’

Food bank users are now requesting "non-cook food" over fears of high energy bills, it has been warned.

The cost-of-living crisis has seen a rise in food bank users, as shop prices rose by a record 5.1% in August, according to the latest report by the British Retail Consortium.

This, combined with a huge surge in energy bills, has led to an “unsustainable situation”, Ian Oulton, a trustee of West Cheshire Foodbank, said.

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Mr Oulton claimed the charity is seeing a 70% increase in use compared to pre-pandemic levels.

He told the PA news agency: “For the first time, we’re spending thousands of pounds on food to top up our supply – around 20%. This is an unsustainable situation for an independent charity.”

Rising food costs mean more people are turning to our food bank to survive. Please, if you are able, (and we know that is getting harder) donate to give people facing hardship the essentials they need. Thank you for every can.... https://t.co/MiY3iNgJW6 pic.twitter.com/Fnw3tTNn7t

— WestCheshireFoodbank (@WestCheshireFB) August 18, 2022

He added: “The majority of people coming here are working people. People with full-time jobs are now requesting non-cook food because people can’t afford to put the oven on.

“More and more are turning down fresh veg because they can’t afford to cook it. This is a disaster. What happens when it gets colder?”

Food banks are also seeing a drop in donations as people struggle with increased prices. Nearly 90% of 84 organisations surveyed by The Independent Food Aid Network (IFAN) said they saw demand rise since April this year, while 72% of 73 organisations reported that