People using food banks have started asking for "non-cook food" because they fear they cannot afford the cost of heating it up in their oven, heartbroken managers have revealed.
The number of foodbank users has risen significantly in recent months as the cost-of-living crisis continues to hit people across the country.
Shop prices rose by a record 5.1% in August, according to the latest report by the British Retail Consortium.
One food bank manager said she was seeing people who used to donate food now becoming foodbank users, reports Manchester Evening News.
The rise in food prices, combined with a huge surge in energy bills, has led to an “unsustainable situation”, Ian Oulton, a trustee of West Cheshire Foodbank, said.
Mr Oulton claimed the charity is seeing a 70% increase in use compared to pre-pandemic levels.
He added: “For the first time, we’re spending thousands of pounds on food to top up our supply – around 20%. This is an unsustainable situation for an independent charity.
"The majority of people coming here are working people. People with full-time jobs are now requesting non-cook food because people can’t afford to put the oven on.
“More and more are turning down fresh veg because they can’t afford to cook it. This is a disaster. What happens when it gets colder?”
Food banks are also seeing a drop in donations as people struggle with increased prices.
Nearly 90% of 84 organisations surveyed by The Independent Food Aid Network (IFAN) said they saw demand rise since April this year, while 72% of 73 organisations reported food donation levels have dropped since April of this year.
The survey also found 87% reported being hit by supply issues over the same period, and one in five said they needed to reduce the size of their food parcels.
Spiralling prices have also seen more affluent shoppers rely on food banks, according to the manager of Earlsfield Foodbank.
Charlotte White said: “Over the last few months of working here I’ve witnessed people who used to be regular donors becoming users of the food bank.
“Breakfast cereal is now becoming a main meal because it doesn’t need to be cooked.
“We’re trying to provide people with fresh fruit and veg for nutrition, but they’re refusing it because they can’t afford to cook it. I can’t tell you how worrying it is.
“We are not equipped to deal with the gravity of this. There has to be immediate intervention before this gets worse.”
