More than a fifth of people in Scotland have gone a day without eating because they are too poor to buy food, according to a Citizens Advice Scotland survey.

The survey of more than 2,600 people found 21% had not eaten for a day due to lack of money.

Results suggested many working people are struggling to afford food.

Just under half (45%) of respondents were employed and of these one in three (29%) reported having to reduce or skip meals because they lacked money for food.

A total of 40% of working respondents worried about running out of food before having money to buy more and 35% said they are struggling to afford to eat balanced meals.

This rose to 45% of all those who completed the survey, employed and unemployed, worrying about running out of food before having funds to replace it.

Researchers found 23% of people had had to skip meals so that their children could eat.

More than a fifth (21%) of people considered fresh fruit to be unaffordable.

Survey question
The survey questioned people on levels of food insecurity (CAS/PA)

Citizen’s Advice Scotland Chief Executive Derek Mitchell said he was “shocked” at some of the figures.

“For some people going hungry is the norm – that’s just not right,” he said.

“This study shows that many working people in Scotland are struggling to afford to buy food, and in 2018 this is simply unacceptable.”

He added: “Citizens Advice Bureaux in Scotland have seen a 202% rise in demand for advice on food and food banks in the last five years.

“That’s an enormous rise and points to a real crisis in terms of the money in people’s pockets not going far enough.”

A total of 2,651 completed the survey in September or October 2018, around half online and half on paper by people seeking advice from Citizens Advice Scotland or partner agencies.