More Than 2.6 Million Emergency Food Parcels in 2025

Food banks in the Trussell community distributed 2,644,835 emergency food parcels across the UK in calendar year 2025. This was 12% fewer than in 2024 but 45% more than in 2019. Trussell has changed its headline reporting from financial years to calendar years; these comparisons use the same calendar-year basis.

The total counts parcels supplied for individuals, including repeat support. It is not the number of different people or households using food banks, and it excludes independent providers outside the Trussell community. Reviewed 15 October 2026.

Key Facts & Figures (Overview)

  • 2,644,835 emergency parcels distributed by the Trussell community in the UK in 2025.
  • 12% fewer parcels than in calendar year 2024.
  • 45% more parcels than in calendar year 2019.
  • 912,216 parcels were provided for children in 2025.
  • The 2025 total was equivalent to approximately one parcel every 12 seconds.
  • 1,732,619 parcels were provided for adults in 2025.
  • 2,204,106 parcels were distributed in England in 2025.
  • 218,838 parcels were distributed in Scotland in 2025.
  • 154,040 parcels were distributed in Wales in 2025.
  • 67,851 parcels were distributed in Northern Ireland in 2025.

Who Uses Food Banks?

The Department for Work and Pensions’ Family Resources Survey provides a separate picture of household circumstances. In 2024/25, 6% of UK households with at least one disabled adult reported food-bank use in the previous 12 months, compared with 1% of households without a disabled adult.

Households with children were also more likely to report food-bank use: 6% in the previous 12 months, compared with 3% of households without children. These are survey estimates for groups of households, not the composition of Trussell’s users.

Food insecurity can affect households with earnings as well as households receiving benefits. Survey measures of employment, income and food access should not be treated as interchangeable.

The Family Resources Survey found that households with younger heads were less likely to be food secure. The smallest age groups have smaller survey samples, so exact comparisons need care.

Factors Associated with Food-Bank Use

Food costs: Slower inflation means prices are rising more slowly; it does not mean earlier price increases have reversed. Food costs can put pressure on a constrained household budget.

Income and support: Food-bank use was more common among households receiving income-related benefits in the 2024/25 survey. This association does not establish a single cause for every household.

Changes in circumstances: A loss of income, unexpected expense or interruption to support may affect access to food. Individual circumstances vary.

Housing costs: The survey found higher food-bank use in the social rented sector. Tenure is associated with different income and household circumstances, so it should not be interpreted as a cause on its own.

Food Banks and Food Safety

Donated food needs the same attention to safety as other food. Follow storage instructions, check use-by dates, protect food from contamination and provide accurate allergen information. Food that is unsafe must not be redistributed.

Written by Food Safety Experts

This article was written by the team at Level 2 Food Hygiene, specialists in food safety training and compliance.

Sources & References

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Mark McShane
Mark McShane
Health & Safety Training Specialist, Online CPD Academy

Mark writes about food safety, food hygiene and accredited online training for Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate, part of Online CPD Academy.