GOVERNMENT inaction to tackle food poverty is condemning thousands of children to a life of ill health and costing the NHS billions, a committee found today.

The way Britain produces, manufactures, sells and consumes food is a barrier to healthy eating, a report published by the House of Lords food, poverty, health and environment committee has warned, noting that the poorest children are the hardest hit.

It adds that putting pressure on the food industry to reduce sugar, salt, unhealthy fats and calories in processed food could save the NHS billions currently spent treating obesity and avoidable diet-related diseases.

In the report, entitled hungry for change: fixing the failures in food, the government is warned that its recommended healthy diet is too expensive for many families.

It argued that the poorest are put at risk by a system which actively encourages less healthy food by making it cheaper and easier to buy.

National Education Union joint general secretary Dr Mary Bousted said: “This report should serve as an urgent wake-up call to the government.

“Families should be able to access not only enough food, but also the food that they need to stay healthy. 

“With over 200,000 children pushed into poverty by the coronavirus crisis, our members know that many will go hungry unless radical steps are taken immediately.”

She warned that 4.5 million children will be trapped in poverty by Christmas and that the government “must act now to implement a nationwide strategic plan” to increase household incomes and release families from the shame and indignity of having to rely on foodbanks and food voucher schemes.

A government spokeswoman said: “The upcoming national food strategy will look at the entire food system, from field to fork, to ensure that it delivers safe, healthy, affordable food, regardless of where people live or how much they earn.”