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Food donations. Photo by DrivingtheNortheast is licensed under CC BY 2.0
The increasing reliance on food banks during the pandemic could lead to an increase in cases of type 2 diabetes, according to a charity.
The threat to low-income communities is particularly acute, according to UK charity The Olive Trust Wales.
Food bank use in the UK has increased since the outbreak began – by more than a third compared to pre-Covid levels, according to The Trussell Trust – as the economic fallout from the pandemic has led to spikes in unemployment and a decrease in household incomes many families need Support.
The olive Wales, a social enterprise dedicated to promoting social inclusion, equality and environmental sustainability, has warned that this growing reliance on food banks due to poor diets could spark a wave of food-borne type 2 diabetes cases.
Emergency packaging is largely based on canned food – which are usually high in sodium – and there is a lack of fresh produce. They are not designed for long-term use as they do not provide enough nutrients for a healthy, balanced diet. When used over a long period of time, low-income families are at greater risk of developing the disease.
The Olive Trust Wales is working to combat the rise in foodborne diabetes among people on the poverty line by donating fresh fruits and vegetables to food banks on a weekly basis to ensure that those who depend on these services have access to healthy and balanced ones Having meals that can help prevent type 2 diabetes and other diseases while also boosting the immune system against Covid.
Throughout the pandemic, the Trust has worked closely with the food bank services in Pembrey and Burry Port in Carmarthenshire, providing over £ 1,000 in donations. It has also delivered food packages direct to those screened off due to diabetes. In total, the organization has helped more than 100 people with their fresh food donations and now intends to expand its services across the UK.
Denise Kingsley-Jones, Founder of The Olive Trust, said: “Unfortunately, people who depend on food banks or who live on the poverty line and can afford less fresh produce are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes to get sick increases. These people are more likely to eat canned meat and dried goods without the fresh fruits and vegetables benefits that can contribute to disease and an increased risk of developing the disease. As dependency on food banks continues to grow, we expect cases of type 2 diabetes to increase, which is a very worrying landscape.
“We firmly believe that a person’s health should not be determined by their financial situation. That is why it is so important to ensure that low-income families not only have access to healthy food, but guidance on how to make the most of the foods they are supplied with to create healthier meals. “
While the lack of access to fresh food is a factor in the increasing incidence of type 2 diabetes in poorer communities, the charity has found that a lack of knowledge about how to prepare meals is also to blame for these people. To support this, the organization has also developed recipes that accompany food packages for communities and show how all the ingredients in the box can be used together with the donated fruits and vegetables for balanced meals.
Denise added, “Not only do we donate fresh groceries to food banks, but we also create recipes for packages like lamb broth, apple crumble and casseroles so that the contents can be retained even if a can of meat is in a package with the inclusion of fresh foods go much further. “