One in five food workers are relying on food banks themselves

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Nearly one in five workers who keep the country fed are themselves using food banks.A shock survey also shows that a third of respondents have depended on family or friends for food.The findings are contained in a report by the Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAW) based on discussions with members.Food workers represent a sizeable portion of staff in the UK, covering production, retail outlets and distribution.Almost 17 per cent of the food workers who took part said they have relied on food banks, up from 7%.Those depending on family and friends also rose from 20 per cent to 34 per cent.Over 60 per cent of respondents said their wages are not currently high enough to meet their basic needs.Nearly nine in ten staff said they had reduced energy use in their home to save money.A majority of people contacted said they believed they had eaten less than they thought they should due to a lack of money.According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, 13.4 million people were living in poverty in 2020/21.Of these 7.9 million were working-age adults, 3.9 million were children and 1.7 million were pensioners.Far too many Scottish food workers are going cold and hungry and are in need of a pay rise.

This appalling situation reflects an economy that is failing working families. The results of our new research which asked our members how the cost-of-living crisis is affecting them, could not be clearer.

Food workers (people who are in employment), are cold in their own homes and often don't know where their next meal is coming from.

Skipping meals, eating less, buying cheaper and unhealthier foods is shockingly, the new normal. As far as heating their own homes is concerned that is often a non-starter - it is blankets and jumpers