Almost half of young adults in Northern Ireland are worried their food supplies will run out before they have the money to buy more, according to new research published by the Consumer Council.

The study, titled 'Enough on their plates?', also found that over two in five consumers aged 18 to 30 experienced food insecurity, defined as an inability to access food of the quality or quantity needed to meet their basic needs.

The research identified several groups as being more likely to experience food insecurity, including young adults on low incomes, those with a disability, individuals with food allergies or intolerances, and those living in rented accommodation.

In response to financial hardship, the study found that around one in ten young adults had resorted to self-employment (11%), gambling (9%), or social media activity (9%) to generate income. More concerningly, others reported turning to investments in stocks, shares or cryptocurrency (5%), sex work (3%), taking loans from illegal lenders (2%), or participating in drug or medical trials (2%). Philippa McKeown-Brown, Head of Food and Emerging Markets at the Consumer Council, said: "Until now we haven't looked specifically at young adults' food experiences and the findings from this research highlight a number of concerns, especially amongst those not in education, employment or training."

She detailed some of the stark findings: "Worryingly, we found nearly half of respondents said they couldn't afford to eat balanced meals, and almost two in five had reduced meal sizes or skipped meals, whilst over a quarter went without food for an entire day due to money concerns."

The research also explored the dietary habits of young adults. On a more positive note, almost four in five expressed confidence in their ability to cook healthy meals. However, this confidence was notably higher among those who grew up in households where food was regularly cooked from scratch (86%) compared to those who did not (47%).

"This research brings into sharp focus the lived experience of this key age group, whose concerns can sometimes be overlooked," Ms McKeown-Brown commented.

"The Consumer Council is committed to sharing our findings and working with others to address the needs of young adults in Northern Ireland," she added.