The Growing Problems of Food Poverty and Insecurity

Abstract

This chapter sets out the context for the rise in food poverty and the corresponding rise in the number of food banks in the UK. It provides a background to some of the key definitions and concepts used in the area such as food poverty and food insecurity. It starts with a short history of the development of food banks and then moves on to examine the issue of rising food poverty and insecurity. This is contextualised within the increases in general poverty and to changes in the UK welfare system. For those unfamiliar with the operation of food banks, a brief outline of the different types and how they work is provided. The chapter concludes with an overview of how ‘governmentality’ around food has shifted from the state to the charity sector.