Opinion: Groceries or rent? Time to get serious about food insecurity

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Food insecurity is worsening globally due to the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, recession and world conflicts. Unexpectedly, Canada is one of the countries experiencing a food insecurity crisis, with grocery costs soaring astronomically during the pandemic and reaching fever pitch into 2024.

A Statistics Canada survey in 2022 examined how Canadians were copingwith higher living costs. Even before inflation had peaked, almost three in four reported rising prices were affecting their ability to meet day-to-dayexpenses. According to the 2024 Food Price Report, the average family of four is expected to spend $16,297.20 on food this year, an increase of up to $701.79 from 2023.

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The problem is widespread and growing, disproportionately affecting low-incomehouseholds, families with a racialized or Indigenous major income owner, single-mother homes, and those with disabilities.

Those unable to keep up with growing food costs are forced to make major lifestyle and dietary changes to cope. When it comes down to it, many Canadians would choose to skip dinner or opt for unhealthier foods in order to pay rent and other bills on time.

In a survey of 5,000 Canadians by the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University, almost 63 per cent reported being worried that “compromising on nutrition due to high food prices may have adverse long-term effects on their health.” Indeed, food insecurity is closely linked to poorer health outcomes, including incidence of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and poor bone health.

A number of reports also document household food insecurity as a risk factor for mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. Undoubtedly, health care utilization caused by food insecurity will place excess burdens on our already crumbling health care system.

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As food prices soar, many Canadians wonder: Who’s to blame? A poll published by the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie indicates one-quarter of respondents believe profiteering, or price-gouging, by grocery chains is the major cause of high food costs.

The Competition Bureau of Canada has since made a series of recommendations toimprove competition in the grocery industry. These include supporting new and innovative types of grocery businesses (including online grocers), encouraging thegrowth of independent and international grocers, and taking measures to limit property controls in the grocery industry.

However, in our view, there are notable gaps in the bureau’s assessment, particularly regarding the pricing strategies employed by major grocery retailers. Moreover, these recommendations are not sufficient without proper implementation. Further action can include stabilizing food prices, increasing discounts, and implementing price-matching campaigns.

Food insecurity goes beyond the issue of high food prices and unveils the deeper reality of increasing poverty in Canada. Recognizing the accelerating demand for its services, Food Banks Canada has highlighted the importance of developing a multi-pronged approach to address this systemic issue, starting at the federal level. This includes rebuilding our broken social safety net, getting serious about affordable housing, supporting low-income workers, and addressing northern and remote food insecurity and poverty.

Only through a combination of regulatory efforts and industry actions can the burden of high food costs be alleviated for Canadian consumers. It is shameful that in our country, millions are struggling to access food. Alarm bells should be ringing among policymakers — who should be doing much more to regulate the food industry to protect Canadians.

Systematically reducing food insecurity in our country should be a public health priority warranting immediate attention. This would not only assure an enhanced quality of life for Canadians, but also alleviate the escalating burden on our health care services.

Milca Meconnen, Tasmin Adel and Kari Guo are students in the master of science in public health program at McGill University.

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