‘Iftar For All’ boxes launch to help people struggling with costs during Ramadan

Almost two-thirds of practicing Muslims are worried about the costs of Iftar meals, according to new research. To help, Hellmann’s has teamed up with UK charity Human Appeal to offer free food parcels for those most in need this Ramadan.

Called ‘Iftar for All’, Muslims can apply for the packages to help make managing costs that bit easier.

Three-quarters of people spend more on food items during Ramadan than at any other time of year, according to the research, with half spending more than £91 on their weekly shop for Iftar meals when they break their fast between sundown and sunrise.

The initiative will be available in three major cities, with free food parcels distributed across the London, Birmingham and Manchester regions. 

To create the parcels, Hellmann’s partnered with Afia Begom of Afelia’s Kitchen, a British-Bangladeshi chef and recipe developer, who designed to boxes to create a week’s worth of food without waste.

Boxes include a mix of non-perishable, halal food products, such as chickpeas, dates and mayonnaise. 

Food waste is another concern for 75% of people polled, due to the change in eating patterns that comes with Iftar – these boxes are designed to make it easy to pair ingredients together to avoid waste.

As well as food, the parcels will contain recipes for traditional Iftar meals, created by Afia, alongside inspiration in how to make the most out of the ingredients to minimise waste.

Boxes are available at selected beneficiary centres from April 3, including Sufra Foodbank in London, Birmingham Central Mosque and Homeless Aid UK in Bolton.

Owais Khan, deputy CEO at Human Appeal, called the scheme ‘an inclusive call to action’.

‘Sharing food and Iftar is in the spirit of special occasions like Ramadan, and we want to show people how they can share and give back to those in need around them,’ he added.

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