The UK Government has been accused of being in “denial” about the increased use of food banks in Scotland.
Holyrood’s welfare reform committee said allowing a “Dickensian model of welfare to take root” was unacceptable.
It concluded that changes to benefits were a “significant cause” of the rise in demand being experienced by providers of food aid.
Evidence presented to MSPs suggested a rise of around 400% in people receiving assistance in 2013-14 compared with the same period the year before.
The committee has urged the UK Government to recognise that people are struggling to meet their basic need for food due to its direct action.
In a report published today, MSPs said there was a direct correlation between welfare reforms, benefit sanctions and the increase in use of food banks.
They said they disagreed with a Department of Work and Pensions ministerial assessment that people were choosing to use facilities principally due to ease of access and increased awareness.
The report stated that individuals were turning to food aid out of necessity and many often feel stigmatised and ashamed.
Charity the Trussell Trust said food parcels donated by churches, schools, supermarkets, individuals and other groups were handed out to 1,573 adults and 486 children in Aberdeen in 2013-14.
A total of 463 adults and 333 children in Aberdeenshire, and 3,335 adults and 1,169 children in the Highlands used food banks in the last 12 months.
The figures showed 135 adults and 60 children in Orkney and 74 adults and 10 children in the Western Isles received lifeline parcels.
Committee convener Michael McMahon, a Labour MSP, said: “The UK Government can no longer ignore the evidence that their welfare reforms are having a real impact on people’s ability to feed themselves.
“There can be no place for this in a modern, prosperous nation, just as there should be no need for food banks.
“Our evidence showed some low paid workers need to access food banks.”
Mr McMahon said the welfare system should be proving help to people, not charities.
“Allowing this Dickensian model of welfare to take root is simply unacceptable,” he added.
“Ignoring the problem cannot be part of the solution.”