Changes in UK price disparities between healthy and less healthy foods over 10 years: An updated analysis with insights in the context of inflationary increases in the cost-of-living from 2021

• DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2024.107290
• Publication Date: 2024-03-08T21:16:14Z
• Authors: Jody C. Hoenink; Kate Garrott; Nicholas R.V. Jones; Annalijn I. Conklin; Pablo Monsivais; Jean Adams
• Keywords: Cost-of-living crisis; Food; Fruit; Vegetables; Commerce; Food price; Humans; Dietary inequality; Longitudinal Studies; United Kingdom; Price increase; Diet

Food prices and affordability play an important role in influencing dietary choices, which turn have implications for public health. With inflationary increases the cost-of-living UK since 2021, understanding dynamics of food becomes increasingly important. In this longitudinal study, we aimed to examine changes from 2013 2023 by group healthiness. We established a dataset spanning years 2013–2023 combining price data Consumer Price Index beverage items with nutrient databank Department Health & Social Care's National Diet Nutrition Survey data. calculated (£/100 kcal) each item year as well before during period pressure, classified into groups according Eatwell Guide either "more healthy" or "less using profiling score model. 2023, bread, rice, potatoes pasta was cheapest (£0.12/100 fruit vegetables most expensive (£1.01/100 kcal). Less healthy cheaper than more (£0.33/100 kcal versus £0.81/100 Before pressure (from late 2021), foods decreased 3%. After period, increased 22%: relative were highest milk dairy (31%) less category (26%). While healthier saw smaller they remain expensive, potentially exacerbating inequalities. Policy responses should ensure mitigate disparities via, example, subsidies.