WQ80949 (e) Tabled on 19/08/2020

Further to the results of the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) questions used in surveys during 2016-17/2018-19 that suggested an increase in acute food insecurity, what plans does the Welsh Government have to build on these questions for the future in line with the internationally approved measures of food insecurity?

Answered by Minister for Health and Social Services | Answered on 28/08/2020

In line with other public sector bodies in the UK, the Welsh Government has been working with the Evidence and Network on UK Household Food Insecurity (ENUF) to understand how it can improve the way it measures food insecurity. Much of this work has been guided by the US Department of Agriculture’s Adult Food Insecurity module, an internationally recognised measure of food insecurity that has been adopted across a number of public and third-sector organisations in the UK.

 

Changes have been made to the food poverty module in the National Survey for Wales to better align with internationally recognised measures of food insecurity. For example, in July 2020 we began asking participants whether they had skipped a meal or reduced the size of a meal in the previous fortnight. Questions on foodbank use have also been expanded and the Welsh Government will shortly consider replacing a question on meat/fish/vegetarian equivalent consumption with a question on fruit and vegetable consumption. This is in response to feedback from ENUF and Food Sense Wales.