About Food Insecurity
Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada.
Vital Signs Data
Updated March 8, 2024
Food insecurity
Food insecurity is not only defined by having insufficient amounts of food, but also a diet that is lacking in quality, variety, or desirability. Food insecurity is highly correlated with financial challenges but may also be caused by physical or logistical challenges in accessing or cooking nutritious food.
Almost one in four households in Hastings Prince Edward has inadequate or insecure access to food due to financial constraints.
Food insecurity is a serious public health problem in Hastings and Prince Edward Counties (HPEC). The Real Cost of Eating Well in Hastings and Prince Edward Counties Report, 2023, shows the prevalence of household food insecurity for HPEC is 23 per cent, significantly higher than the provincial estimate of 17.4 per cent.
Based on a household’s experience, they can be considered food secure or in one of 3 categories of food insecurity:
Marginal food insecurity: Worry about running out of food and/or limited food selection due to a lack of money for food.
Moderate food insecurity: Compromise in quality and/or quantity of food due to a lack of money for food.
Severe food insecurity: Miss meals, reduce food intake, and at the most extreme go day(s) without food.
More recently, a 10.8% year-over-year increase in grocery prices put a strain on Canadians’ food budgets. Nearly three in four Canadians reported that rising prices are affecting their ability to meet day-to-day expenses such as transportation, housing, food, and clothing. One in five Canadians expect they are likely to obtain food or meals from a community organization in the next six months. Higher food costs have a greater impact on households with low incomes and on people who live with fixed incomes. (The Daily, Statistics Canada, Released: 2022-06-09)
Nearly three in four Canadians reported that rising prices are affecting their ability to meet day-to-day expenses such as food, transportation, housing, and clothing.
Facts about food insecurity
- People are food insecure because they lack the money to buy food. Especially vulnerable are households that rent their accommodations, those that are led by female single parents, single adults, those living with disabilities, racialized and immigrant households. (Community Food Centres Canada. Beyond Hunger: the hidden impacts of food insecurity)
- Most food-insecure households are in the workforce. In 2021, 51.9% of food-insecure households reported their main source of income as wages, salaries, or self-employment. (PROOF Food Insecurity Policy Research, Household Food Insecurity in Canada)
- Feed Ontario lists the top three drivers of food bank usage as growth in precarious employment, lack of affordable housing and insufficient social assistance programs. (Feed Ontario, Hunger Report 2020)
- Most food insecure households do not access food banks. Only about 25% of food insecure households use food banks. Food Banks Canada surveys reveal that stigma is associated with charity and accessing food banks is a last resort. People will compromise on food to meet other financial obligations such as rent. (Food Banks Canada)
- For the most vulnerable populations in rural areas, lack of access to public transportation is a barrier to accessing food, especially for seniors and young families. (Hastings Prince Edward Public Health, “Community Food Assessment for Hastings and Prince Edward Counties)
- Food security solutions should involve those with lived experience. In PEC, 50% of recent food bank clients and 38% of those who are worried about money for food, want to get involved and help themselves while helping others. (Farrell Insight, Living With Food Insecurity in PEC, Prepared for The Food Collective September 2019)
- The Food To Share model of cooking bees that provide hands-on training and general education opportunities for people from all walks of life was very well-received by those who have been through it and is appealing for those at-risk or currently experiencing food insecurity. (Food to Share)
- Prior to the pandemic, Hastings Prince Edward Health Region was making small gains against food insecurity. The reported prevalence of food insecurity decreased from 10% in 2014, to 9.8% in 2018, still high compared to Ontario at 8.8%. (Hastings Prince Edward Public Health, “Community Food Assessment for Hastings and Prince Edward Counties)
Impact on health
Lack of adequate nutritious food is a far-reaching problem. Poor diet quality and emotional strain negatively impact physical, mental and social health. (Community Food Centres Canada. Beyond Hunger: the hidden impacts of food insecurity)
In primary care, 1 dollar spent on nutrition interventions can save up to 99 dollars by reducing medication use, hospitalizations and freeing up physician time. (Canadian Malnutrition Task Force, Food in Healthcare)
Annual health care costs are 23-121% higher in food insecure households in Ontario. Up to 1 in 3 hospitalized children are malnourished upon admission and at risk of further deterioration which is associated with longer length of stay, increased risk of complications and higher costs.
How you can help
- Volunteer or donate to a food program
- Participate in “Fresh for All”, a community of gardeners, businesses, organizations and individuals working together to share fresh food.
- Donate toward food security through the Community Fund at The County Foundation
- Support local organizations that increase literacy levels and financial empowerment
- Donate your Aeroplan Miles to help offset travel costs for Community Food Centre of Canada partners.
- Send your MP a letter asking them to end disability poverty today!
- Support the passing of Bill C-22 for an improved Canada Disability Benefit
- Advocate for saving farmland from development.
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)
SDG 2.1.End hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.
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