Volunteers sort donations at the Daily Bread Food Bank, in Toronto, on May 19.Galit Rodan/Globe and Mail
A new survey suggests a growing number of Canadians are struggling with the rising cost of food as prices for basics such as pasta, bread and meat all soar.
The poll from Food Banks Canada indicates hunger and food insecurity are increasing across the country, with lower-income Canadians hit hardest by inflation.
The survey conducted by Mainstreet Research found almost a quarter of Canadians reported eating less than they should because there wasn’t enough money for food – a figure that nearly doubled for those earning under $50,000 a year.
It also found one in five Canadians reported going hungry at least once between March, 2020, and March, 2022.
The automated telephone interview poll surveyed 4,009 adults from Feb. 25 to March 2.
Food Banks Canada chief executive Kirstin Beardsley says the majority of food banks are already stretched to their limit and this summer is expected to be the toughest in the organization’s 41-year history.
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