A group set up to address food poverty says any cut in social welfare or child benefit will result in long-term health problems for low-income families.

‘Healthy Food for All’ says it’s found that it’s ten times cheaper for the less well off, to provide calories in the form of unhealthy foods than from healthy alternatives.

It’s now appealing to the Government to address the financial barriers to healthy eating.

Dr. Mary Flynn, from the Food Safety Authority,  says although unhealthy foods may be cheaper, they create more problems in the long run.