Families in the North East – many of which are already living in poverty – will soon feel the impact of the Iran war, says Alice Wiseman, the Director of Public Health for Newcastle and Gateshead.
She was speaking at the latest in a series of talks organised by The Hexham Debate, where she explained the devastating impact of increasing food insecurity.
“We know that the people who are always impacted greatest by a crisis are those with the lowest levels of income, the lowest levels of resilience,” said Alice.
“It’s the Iran war now, but think what our communities have experienced in the last ten to fifteen years – austerity, welfare reform, Covid, the cost-of-living crisis, Ukraine. We are constantly seeing increased demand for all our services.”
“Food For Thought”
In her recent annual report “Food for Thought” Alice Wiseman spelt out the horrifying impact of poverty on food insecurity in Gateshead and Newcastle. It impacts on life expectancy, child obesity, low birth weights, diabetes and ill health. All of which are above the national average in Newcastle and Gateshead.
“What’s for tea was always a regular question in my house when I was growing up and bringing up my children,” Alice told the Hexham Debate audience. “I always had an answer. It never crossed my mind that I wouldn’t. But sadly, this is not the same for all of our residents.”
“In 2024 nearly one in four households in the North East was facing food insecurity. It’s not just about hunger; it’s also about quality. Healthy food in the UK is nearly twice as expensive as unhealthy food. People with food insecurity experience stigma and shame which can create barriers to seeking help. This can combine together to lead to problems with mental health, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline and social isolation.”
Inequality is the root of the problem. The poorest people with families in the North East would need to spend 70% of their income on a healthy diet. The richest fifth only need to spend 11%.
There is help
But there is help available.
Alice told the audience that one resident in Newcastle described the shame she felt when she contacted a food bank after losing her job. “She said she parked around the corner, avoided eye contact and worried that people would judge her. But over time the hub helped her meet other people who were in the same situation. She said they didn’t just give her food, they gave her back her self-respect. Now she volunteers to help others.”
Other schemes include: family hubs; food banks; community cafes; men’s pie clubs; cook at home kits; food pantries; social supermarkets; holiday activity and food programs.
More needs to be done
Alice would like to see more done to tackle industries who use “specific tactics” to increase their profits which ultimately undermine health. “This includes the way that food is produced and promoted; ultra processed food which has a focus on quantity and cheap prices, rather than nutrition,” she said.
“They have industry-sponsored research which aims to cast doubt over scientific evidence. They lobby political parties to influence national policy and the lobby for self-regulation which we all know doesn’t work.”
Lifting two-child benefit cap helps
But she was pleased with the government’s decision to lift the two-child benefit cap. “I think this will be a really significant help. We know that children in large families are much more likely to be living in extreme poverty.”
She also welcomed measures to restrict the numbers of hot food outlets in Gateshead and Newcastle. Both authorities now have bans on new premises in areas where child obesity is above ten percent.
“In Gateshead this means that we have not approved a new hot food outlet since 2015. And there is evidence that this has lowered child obesity compared to some other places in the region.”
A lot to digest. But here’s one final point. One take-away pepperoni pizza has three day’s worth the daily fat allowance for a woman. Food for thought indeed.
Here is Alice Wiseman’s full report “Food for Thought”
