Brexit food poverty

Brexit could have an impact on food poverty in the county, it has been claimed.

Emily Fay, from the Shropshire Food Poverty Alliance, which works with Shropshire Council, said she was concerned about warnings that Britain’s upcoming withdrawal form the European Union could hit families hard.

She told a meeting earlier this week that she is expecting more families to have to use food banks due to upcoming benefit changes.

Now she says she is concerned about Brexit also having a negative impact.

She said: “There is Brexit upcoming and with that concerns that fresh fruit and vegetables could become more scarce or won’t be imported – even temporarily.”

Earlier in the week, Shropshire Food Poverty Alliance said it is worried what the future holds, with one in five children in the county already living in poverty and 70 per cent of adults already classed as being overweight or obese.

The Alliance said said its research suggests changes to the government’s benefits system will result in £105 million per year will be lost in the county – equivalent to £550 per working age adult.

Health bosses also said it is having an impact on people’s well-being, while a councillor called on schools to help teach children to cook.