As a result of rising grocery prices, Canadians are encountering hunger and food insecurity.
According to a survey conducted by Food Banks Canada and Mainstreet Research, approximately 25% of Canadians are eating less as a result of inflation. When individuals earning less than $50,000 a year are included, the number of those who are suffering more than doubles.
When asked if they had gone hungry at least once from March 2020 to March 2022, one-in-five (20%) of 4,009 respondents said Yes.
The automated telephone survey was conducted from Feb. 25th to March 2.
“Food banks in most regions of Canada are experiencing an influx of Canadians visiting food banks for the first time — a number that’s increased by up to 25 per cent in some regions,” said Food Banks Canada CEO Kirstin Beardsley. “Canadians are telling us that they are running out of money for food because of rising housing, gas, energy and food costs.”
According to Statistics Canada, consumers paid 9.7 percent more for food in stores in April compared to the previous year, the largest increase since September 1981.
It also says prices for starchy foods such as bread have gone up 12.2, while pasta jumped 19.6%, rice 7.4% and cereal products 13.9% also increased. Additionally, a cup of coffee cost 13.7% more in April 2022 than in April 2021.
This is a growing trend which we can see from our report in March, a majority of Canadians said they are $200 away from being on the streets.