Australia and UK face soaring food insecurity amid cost‑of‑living crises

A Salvation Army report released in 2026 shows that food insecurity in Australia has reached a new depth. Among 4,400 respondents seeking emergency aid, 91 % had skipped meals in the past year, almost one‑third did so daily, 19 % ate food from bins and 60 % consumed spoiled or expired items. The survey also found that more than a third survive on a single meal a day and many dilute food or drinks to stretch them further.

In the United Kingdom, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation’s cost‑of‑living tracker for summer 2026 recorded a record 7.4 million low‑income families unable to afford essential items, including food, over the previous six months. The number of households cutting back on meals or going hungry has risen, reflecting broader pressures from high bills and limited wages despite some reductions in heating costs.