Rising food prices are negatively impacting the mental health of people in the UK, according to research from the consumer watchdog Which?.

Soaring food prices have worsened the mental health of 25 per cent of people who took part the organisation’s survey, with the increased cost of food also having a “detrimental impact” on sleep, diet and general physical health.

Some groups of people are more affected than others, with around 30 per cent of women saying their mental health had worsened due to the rising prices compared to a third of people aged 35 to 54.

Which? said that supermarkets could do more to help consumers, such as ensuring smaller convenience stores stock budget ranges which can support a healthy diet. Previous research from Which? found that many consumers felt they were being ripped off in smaller shops.

The watchdog added that supermarkets need to make unit pricing clearer, including on promotions and loyalty card offers, to make it easier for shoppers to work out the best value.

“Women and young parents are among the worst affected and some people struggling to feed their children are asking themselves how much more of this they can take,” said Sue Davies, head of food policy at Which?. “Now is the time to act. The government must urgently get supermarkets to commit to stocking essential budget ranges in all their stores, particularly in areas where people are most in need, as well as make pricing much clearer so shoppers can compare prices and find the best value products.”

Share Story: