Ethnic Minorities Face Twice the Risk of Hunger, Report Reveals

A recent report by the Trussell Trust highlights a troubling disparity in food security among different ethnic groups in the United Kingdom. The study reveals that individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds are nearly twice as likely to experience hunger compared to their White counterparts. Specifically, the report finds that 25% of people from ethnic minority backgrounds face food insecurity, compared to 14% of those identifying as White.

The findings, set to be published next week in the annual Hunger in the UK report, underscore the overrepresentation of ethnic minorities in food bank usage. According to data shared with The Mirror, 19% of individuals referred to Trussell Trust food banks are from ethnic minority backgrounds, despite these groups comprising only 14% of the UK population.

Personal Struggles Highlight Ongoing Inequities

Tayyaba, a former NHS worker and single parent, shared her personal struggle with food insecurity. After leaving an abusive relationship, she found herself relying on food banks despite working for the NHS. “My pay was so low that it had to be topped up by Universal Credit, but it still wasn’t enough to get us to the end of the month without having to turn to a food bank,” she explained. “I have had to turn to food banks many times; otherwise, I’d be skipping meals to make sure my son could eat.”

Her situation reflects a broader systemic issue affecting many families in similar circumstances. “Managing everything alone is tough, and life is a constant struggle,” she added. “I’m not asking for luxuries, just a peaceful life where I can sleep without worrying about how I’m going to pay my bills or put food on the table.”

Levi Roots, a well-known entrepreneur and ambassador for the Trussell Trust, emphasized the historical context of these issues. “My family moved to Britain as part of the Windrush generation. I moved here when I was 11, and it was a frightening experience—I faced poverty and hardship as well as racism,” he noted. Roots criticized the persistence of structural inequalities, stating, “These should be things of the past, but Trussell’s findings show that structural inequalities mean people from ethnic minority backgrounds are almost twice as likely to face hunger than people from White backgrounds, and are overrepresented at food banks.”

Systemic Issues and Government Response

Dr. Shabna Begum, chief executive of the Runnymede Trust, a leading racial justice charity, called the statistics shocking yet unsurprising. “Approximately three in five Bangladeshi and Pakistani individuals, and over half of Black children, live in poverty after housing costs,” she remarked. “These outcomes are the result of decades of political choices designed to benefit a select few while stirring division along racial lines.”

In response to the findings, a government spokesperson declared that the administration is committed to addressing structural racial inequalities and creating a level playing field. “We are reforming the broken welfare system we inherited so we can get people into good, secure jobs, helping them out of poverty and tackling the unacceptable rise in food bank dependence in recent years.” The spokesperson cited initiatives such as the launch of 750 breakfast clubs across the country, a £1 billion crisis support package, and changes to Universal Credit, which aim to provide a £420 boost to over one million households.

The report is based on a survey conducted by Ipsos, which interviewed a sample of 4,427 UK adults between May and July 2024 and a separate survey of 3,866 adults referred to food banks between May and July 2025. The findings present a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges related to food security in the UK, particularly among ethnic minority populations. The implications of these disparities call for a concerted effort to address the root causes of poverty and hunger in society.