- UK food prices are projected to be 50 per cent higher by November, compared to the start of the cost-of-living crisis in mid-2021, a rise equivalent to nearly two decades of price growth achieved in just over five years.
- This significant inflation is primarily driven by extreme weather events linked to climate change, global supply chain disruptions, and volatile oil and gas markets.
- Staple items such as pasta, beef, and chocolate have seen price increases of 50-64 per cent, with olive oil rising by 113 per cent, contributing to an average £605 increase in household food bills over 2022 and 2023.
- Recently, five climate-impacted foods – butter, milk, beef, chocolate, and coffee – have been responsible for much of the continued pressure on food inflation, with their prices rising over four times faster than other food and drink.
- Experts warn that without achieving net zero emissions to stabilise the climate and insulate the food system from price shocks, food prices will continue to spiral, disproportionately affecting low-income families and increasing pressure on the NHS.
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