Millions of people in the UK are struggling to afford food as prices continue to rise. A recent poll by charity Amnesty International UK found that three-quarters of people in the UK (75 per cent) have worried about the cost of food in the last year or know someone who has. About 70 per cent said they have had to change their eating and shopping habits, and two-thirds (66 per cent) believe the next generation will find food even less affordable than it is now. Lowri Williams, a 56-year-old single mother from Lancashire, said she rarely goes into shops unless she really needs something. She described the experience as making herself feel worse. She is one of 14 million people in the UK facing food insecurity, a figure that has risen by nearly three million since 2022. This increase highlights the growing challenge of affording basic essentials as their costs continue to rise. Amnesty International UK has urged the new prime minister to introduce a 'right to food' bill, which would make it a legal duty for the government to ensure access to food. Jen Clark, the charity’s lead on economic, social, and cultural rights, said the polling shows that people across the country are worried about being able to afford the food they and their families need, with many fearing the next generation will face even greater difficulties. Laura, a 39-year-old private renter and single mother from the Wirral, is also struggling with the cost of food. Although she receives universal credit for her back pain and sciatica, she is left with a £125 monthly shortfall to cover her bills. She prioritizes paying her rent first, which sometimes means she goes without food for a few days. Food prices have increased by 39 per cent over the past five years, leading to a surge in demand for emergency food assistance. Trussell Trust, a leading food bank provider, said it distributed 2.6 million emergency food parcels in 2025, a 45 per cent increase from pre-pandemic levels. Helen Barnard, director of policy and research at Trussell Trust, said it is deeply concerning that so many people are worried about the cost of food, but this outcome is not surprising given the current economic conditions. Tyler, a 23-year-old living with his mother and sister in London, said his mother doesn't eat enough meals. When he asks her, she says she is not hungry, but he believes she is doing it so he and his sister can eat. He said this situation affects him mentally and has motivated him to seek more work hours to help out more. There are now fears that food prices will rise again due to the ongoing US-Iran conflict, which is affecting global economies. Higher energy and fuel costs could increase the expense of importing food, while rising fertiliser costs may make growing crops more expensive. Trussell Trust has called on the government to introduce an 'essentials guarantee' in universal credit to ensure that the benefit covers the cost of necessities. A government spokesperson said the government is determined to reduce poverty after years of rising hardship. They noted that household incomes have increased by 5 per cent in real terms, food bank usage has decreased, and food insecurity is down. The government also highlighted measures taken to ease cost-of-living pressures, including raising the national minimum wage, keeping the main rate of universal credit above inflation for the first time, suspending tariffs on everyday staples, and providing a £1 billion crisis and resilience fund for councils to help tackle food poverty.