Around 31% are also stockpiling discounted items.
Around three million UK households are skipping meals as food prices continue to rise, according to new research from Which?.
The consumer group found 85% of adults are worried about food costs, highlighting growing anxiety across households already struggling with stretched budgets.
Consumer confidence has also fallen sharply, with Which?’s tracker dropping to minus 62 in April, its lowest level since the height of the 2022 cost of living crisis.
The same survey revealed 71% of adults expect the UK economy to worsen over the next year, while only 9% believe conditions will improve.
This pessimism reflects a broader financial squeeze, with rising food and fuel costs placing sustained pressure on everyday spending.
Which? reported that one in 10 households is now skipping meals, while a further 15% are going without certain foods entirely.
The organisation links these trends to global factors, including the conflict in the Middle East, which has pushed up oil and raw material prices.
These increases are expected to feed through into further food price rises, worsening the strain on already vulnerable households.
For many British Asians, where food plays a central cultural and family role, cutting back on meals represents a particularly difficult shift.
Households are adapting by changing how they shop, with 43% buying cheaper products and 37% opting for supermarket own-brand budget ranges.
Around 31% are also stockpiling discounted items, reflecting a growing reliance on promotions to manage weekly food costs.
More broadly, 53% of households made adjustments to essential spending in the month leading up to April 10, including cutting back, using savings, or borrowing money.
Financial strain is also visible in rising missed payments, with 7.7% of households reporting they missed a bill, loan or credit card payment in April.
This marks an increase from 5.7% at the end of 2025, suggesting the situation is continuing to deteriorate.
Fuel costs are adding further pressure, with around 80% of adults expressing concern about rising prices at the pump.
More than two-thirds of drivers say they have changed their behaviour, including reducing leisure trips and limiting visits to friends and family.
This shift points to a wider social impact, where financial worries are beginning to affect everyday relationships and quality of life.
Rocio Concha, policy and advocacy director at Which?, said the findings show a “deepening strain” on household finances and wellbeing.
She warned that without meaningful intervention, more people could be forced into drastic measures to cope with rising living costs.
Which? is now urging the government to act through its Cost of Living Manifesto, calling for stronger protections and targeted support for struggling households.
The figures underline a stark reality, as many families move from careful budgeting towards more severe forms of deprivation amid ongoing economic uncertainty.
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