An estimated four million children are currently living in homes that do not have adequate access to food, a food charity has revealed.

The latest data from the Food Foundation’s Food Insecurity Tracker has revealed the impact that the cost-of-living crisis is having on families.

The tracker found that over a quarter (26%) of households with children have experienced food insecurity in the past month. This has increased by 50% since April, compared to households without children where the increase has been 26%.

The new data also showed that in the past month 9.7 million adults or nearly one in five households (18%) have been unable to afford or get food so they have eaten less, skipped meals or gone without meals for an entire day. This is double the number affected in January.

A total of 54% of households receiving Universal Credit say they are struggling to get the food they need, according to the Food Foundation.

Anna Taylor, executive director of the Food Foundation, said: ‘There are very serious physical and mental health implications from these worsening trends. It is hard for people who have never had to worry about having enough food to understand what it might feel like and we’re continuing to call on the Government to make this a priority.

‘We want to see the expansion of Free School Meals to children on Universal Credit to ensure that every child is guaranteed a healthy, nutritious meal every school day, to take some pressure off families’ budgets.

‘We want the Government to increase benefits in line with inflation and ensure employers pay at least the?real living wage?so people can pay essential bills.

‘We also want to see measures introduced to make fruit, vegetables and other healthy foods available to those on the lowest incomes, so they are not forced into a poor diet of cheap processed food which promotes obesity.’

The children’s charity Barnardo’s has also called on the Government to provide free school meals for all primary school children in England.

A YouGov poll conducted this month on behalf of Barnardo’s found that more than half (54%) of parents with children aged 18 or under in Great Britain have been forced to cut back on food spending for their family over the past 12 months as a way of helping to save money.

In addition, one in five parents (20%) surveyed by YouGov said they have struggled to provide sufficient food for their children due to the current cost-of-living situation.