Food Insecurity in Eastern Ontario – A Matter of Concern

Alycia Douglass
Food Insecurity in Eastern Ontario – A Matter of Concern
With the rising cost of healthy food

CORNWALL, Ontario – Now, more than ever, Canadians are feeling the crunch when it comes to buying groceries. A survey by the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) found that the average cost to feed a family of four is $841 per month, with prices of healthy food having risen 10% in SD&G, Prescott-Russell and the City of Cornwall in 2016.

“These costs keep increasing every year,” said Lysanne Trudeau, Manager of the Chronic Diseases Program. “And because of the high cost of housing and inadequate income, many families are struggling every month to meet the needs of their household.”

Food insecurity is defined as scarce or insecure access to food due to financial limitations. Data shows that in Eastern Ontario, one in eight households do not have sufficient funds for food.

“Food insecurity is a serious public health problem that impacts physical, mental and social health,” said EOHU Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Paul Roumeliotis. “We need to work together to solve the problem, so let’s start a conversation about health!

Each year, Ontario’s health units consider the cost of 67 food items designed to reflect an eating pattern that meets the guidelines outlined in Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide. This data helps to establish the average cost of healthy eating for families and individuals.

To find out more about some of the root causes of food insecurity in Eastern Ontario and other programs available to help, contact the EOHU at 613-933-1375 or at 1 800 267-7120 and ask for Health Line. You can also visit our website at www.eohu.ca to find helpful resources.

Share this article