Cost of Eating Report

Why This Report

• Household food insecurity is a growing public health concern in Ontario and across Canada. It is defined as inadequate or insecure access to food due to financial constraints.
• Food insecurity has serious implications for people’s short and long-term health
• Every year dietitians in public health across Ontario monitor food affordability by looking at average costs of foods to follow basic dietary recommendations. We use this information to look at different scenarios comparing the cost of food and rent to income
• Food is a basic human right and everyone should have access to the physical and financial means to access nourishing food. We share this report to highlight the importance of income based solutions and policies to help reduce poverty, improve living wages and give everyone a chance to eat well.
• We encourage you to share this report and consider the issue of food insecurity when deciding your vote in municipal, provincial and federal elections.