Most of the poorest families in Britain do not know how to feed themselves properly and choose expensive rather than cheap options, TV chef Jamie Oliver has said.
The star, 38, who has an estimated fortune of £150 million, said he finds it “hard to talk about modern-day poverty”.
He cited a family he met while making one of his previous TV shows who ate unhealthy fast food but had splashed out on a huge TV.
Oliver said poor communities in other countries had a better grasp of good food.
“Some of the most inspirational food in the world comes from areas where people are financially challenged,” he said.
“The flavour comes from a cheap cut of meat, or something that’s slow-cooked, or an amazing texture’s been made out of leftover stale bread.”
The campaigning chef added: “I’m not judgmental but I’ve spent a lot of time in poor communities, and I find it quite hard to talk about modern-day poverty.”
Oliver, whose new Channel 4 show Jamie’s Money Saving Meals is designed to help people save on their food bill, added: “The fascinating thing for me is that seven times out of 10, the poorest families in this country choose the most expensive way to hydrate and feed their families the ready meals, the convenience foods.
“You go to Italy or Spain and they eat well on not much money. We’ve missed out on that in Britain somehow.”