Most of poor pick expensive food options claims Oliver

The star, 38, who has an estimated fortune of £150m, said that 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 bought a huge TV.

Oliver said poor communities in other countries had a better grasp of good food. He told the Radio Times: “Some of the most inspirational food in the world comes from areas where people are financially challenged.

“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.

“You might remember that scene in Ministry Of Food, with the mum and the kid eating chips and cheese out of Styrofoam containers, and behind them is a massive f***ing TV. It just didn’t weigh up.”

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.”

The Naked Chef said: “I meet people who say, ‘You don’t understand what it’s like.’ I just want to hug them and teleport them to the Sicilian street cleaner who has 25 mussels, 10 cherry tomatoes, and a packet of spaghetti for 60p, and knocks out amazing pasta.”