Foodbank managers in the U.K. have raised a worrying observation about the number of kids risking food poisoning because their parents turn off the fridge or freezer at night to try and save money on utility bills.
Simon Fann, who runs Truro, a food bank in Cornwall, has received reports from schools in the area whose students are sick with food poisoning. Apparently, they have no choice but to eat spoiled food because their parents are doubling down on the use of appliances to lower their power consumption. The kids are also coming to school wearing soiled and unwashed clothes because their parents want to economize the use of washing machines, Fann told The Times.
Emma Revi of the Trussel Trust, another charity, has also been told of family situations where parents skip their meals so that their children will have more share of the food. Like Fann, she is also aware of moms or dads who are turning off their essential appliances at home so that their budget could go to other expenses given the current high cost of living.
It's Going to Get Worse
A survey from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) showed that today's economic situation is raising food insecurity among average families and it's still likely to get worse in the months to come. Some of the parents who skip meals are also likely going to eat food items that are beyond the expiration date, thus they are also raising their risk of having stomach issues.
However, many parents who try to cut back on the use of essential appliances do not realize that shutting down the fridge or freezer isn't actually going to save money. Energy Saving Trust expert Aled Stephens said that modern freezers or fridges are designed to be kept "on" at all times for efficiency. It will actually take more energy for these appliances to turn inside cold when the parents switch on the fridge in the morning again.
Some desperate parents, on the other hand, are at fast-food restaurants in the evening to use as their dining room, living room, or bathroom so they won't have to use the appliances in their houses. They buy unhealthy Happy Meals for their children for dinner and then stay more for a few hours to watch TV because of the free wifi. Then, before they leave McDonald's or similar fast-food chains, the kids brush their teeth and lightly clean up themselves in the public bathroom before they head home to sleep.
Fuel Bank Foundation head Matthew Cole told The Guardian that their team has also observed more families at leisure centers because they can use the facilities for free. Jo Gilbert of a consumer group said that the cost of energy or utility deals will no longer afford parents to handle their bills with a debt repayment plan. Instead, Gilbert said that the government needs to step in to manage this crisis.
The Same Crisis in the U.S.
The energy bill or utility crisis is not exclusive to the U.K. as U.S. families are also struggling to pay their power bills. According to CNN Business, millions of Americans are actually accumulating debt to pay for their utilities.
If these families lose electricity at home due to non-payment, then the problem will also impact their food supply and other essentials. Thus, some states are taking steps to help with these utility debts by rolling out recovery funds.
