A Guide on How to Talk About Food Poverty

Safefood has worked with FrameWorks UK to create a communications guide for anyone talking about food poverty on the island of Ireland. It is designed to help journalists to build understanding and support and avoid triggering unhelpful ways of thinking. 

What comes to mind when you hear the term ‘food poverty’?

Almost 1 in 10 people in Ireland and 6% of people in Northern Ireland are unable to access or afford healthy, nutritious food.  This is known as food poverty and it impacts on people’s mental and physical health, opportunities in life, and contributes to broader societal inequality.

Reporting on Food Poverty: 

Media coverage of food poverty is important. Effective reporting helps audiences to understand the issue and encourages them to support practical solutions.

We all need to be clear and explicit when talking about the issue, explaining the systemic causes and the negative impact on individuals and society. Failure to do so can lead to a false impression that the individual is to blame, which can affect the public’s enthusiasm and support for sustainable, system-wide solutions.

Key recommendations:

1: Be clear that food poverty means not being able to afford or access enough healthy food. Don’t assume the term is understood. 

2: Make the case for action by appealing to fairness, compassion, and justice. Show why addressing food poverty matters and that we can address it collectively.

3: Explain how food poverty happens. Explain the systems and circumstances that can push people into food poverty including inadequate incomes, high living costs, and access to affordable healthy food in their communities.

4: Show, using examples, how food poverty affects people’s physical and mental health, wellbeing, their relationships, and everyday lives.

5: Highlight practical solutions. Spell out what can be done, and who can act, showing that change is possible.

For more information, read the full guide at How to talk about food poverty.