A new survey by Vic Health has found putting food on the table has become an increasing struggle for single-parent and low income families during the pandemic.
The health foundation interviewed 2,000 Victorian families and found of the single-parent families, one quarter ran out of food during the first lockdown and couldn't afford to buy more.
The survey also found one in 10 families on yearly incomes less than $40,000 faced the same struggle.
Vic Health Chief Executive Officer Sandro Demaio said the combination of bushfires and drought led to price spikes that were compounded by panic buying at the start of the pandemic.
"Combined then with coronavirus, job losses and all the economic pressures that have come with the pandemic ... we're seeing families doing it tough," he said.
"There are individuals in precarious work, in casual work ... that haven't been covered by [Commonwealth] payments."
The Health Body also found one in four families had turned to unhealthy and discounted food to make ends meet.
"This obviously has enormous concerns not only for the health of families but particularly young people across Victoria," Dr Demaio said.
"As a doctor I have big concerns about the diets and long term health of young Victorians."
The health body said there were signs the situation had worsened during the stage four lockdown.
Dr Demaio said it was important government assistance was extended, particularly for marginalised communities.
"We need to make sure no Australian families are left to make difficult decisions about whether they can afford to put good food on the table," he said.
"We need governments at all levels to step up and put healthy affordable diets at the centre of covid recovery."
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMib2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTA4LTIxL2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzLWF1c3RyYWxpYS1saXZlLW5ld3Mtc2NvdHQtbW9ycmlzb24tbmF0aW9uYWwtY2FiaW5ldC8xMjU4MDIxNtIBJ2h0dHBzOi8vYW1wLmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvYXJ0aWNsZS8xMjU4MDIxNg?oc=5
2020-08-21 06:42:00Z
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