Growing up hungry
Think tank: Social Market Foundation
Author(s): Jake Shepherd; Dani Payne; Dr Rebecca Montacute
June 2, 2026
This report from UK think tank the Social Market Foundation measures UK child food insecurity in 2026.
Since the SMF last looked at child food insecurity, the economic landscape has shifted considerably. There have been seismic global conflicts, major domestic political and policy changes, spanning four prime ministers.
This research provides an updated view of childhood hunger in 2026, using data from a new survey of 2,500 parents, alongside insights from food policy and support experts.
