Food banks and austerity: what the data tell us about rising food insecurity in the UK and Europe

Since the 2008 crisis, there have been substantial rises in food insecurity across Europe, writes Owen Davis. His research suggests a link between the welfare regimes of EU countries and such rises, with the increase in the UK and Ireland having been sharper compared to countries with a different system. This link between social policy and food insecurity is not news to researchers but the evidence must be communicated to the public, if government is to be held into account.