







Increased Food Prices

Many have noticed the not-so-subtle price increase on all sorts of food items in the grocery stores in the past several months. The food prices in Canada have been steadily climbing over the years, and will rise up to 4% this year alone. The average household of four members is expected to spend nearly $500 more in 2020. The vast majority of Canadians believe food prices are rising at a faster rate than their household earnings according to a survey by Dalhousie University in Halifax.





Food price inflation rates average 1-2% annually, and the stark jump this year was highlighted in the Canada Food Price Report 2020 released by Dalhousie University. The foods hit most with the projected inflation are meat, fruits, vegetables, and seafood. The report also mentions several factors that affect the fluctuation of food prices in Canada such as climate change and trade relations.

Reasons for the Food Price Hike

The report highlights several reasons why food prices are rising, and high oil prices are one of them. Oil prices affect the cost of transporting food as well as farming because oil plays a key component in fertilizer.





The report mentions that climate change undoubtedly affects rising food prices. Climate change creates extreme and unpredictable weather patterns like droughts and forest fires, floods, and rising sea levels affecting farmers and the Canadian food systems.





Other reasons the report headlines impacting food prices include, geopolitical conflicts, single-use plastic packaging, disease outbreaks, and the effect of increasingly protectionist trade environments on Canada’s exports.

Canada’s New Food Policy

Canada released its first-ever Food Policy in June of 2019. The government is investing $134.4 million in the Food Policy and initiatives that will “shape a healthier and more prosperous future for Canadian families and communities.” The policy’s goal is to create a “healthier and sustainable food system.” It aims to create more accessibility to healthy foods for Canadian families. It also aims to advance reconciliation with the First People by supporting food security for Indigenous and Metis communities.





Changes in the Canadian Food Guide

Canada changed its food guide for the first time in 30 years in January of 2019. The simplified food guide encourages a plant-based diet that reduces the consumption of meat and dairy products.





The original food guide had four food groups and serving sizes, however, this new food guide eliminates the food groups and serving sizes altogether. It encourages Canadians to make water their choice of beverage. The food guide promotes hydration and aims to limit the consumption of sodas and sugary drinks. The new guide warns against eating processed foods high in saturated fats, sugars, and foods high in sodium.





The new food guide has implemented some practices from Brazil. It promotes mindful eating, and encourages home-cooked meals and eating with others. These new changes have been implemented to teach Canadians healthy and sustainable eating. These changes also help consumers spend less money on foods like meat, milk and dairy, and processed foods. By limiting the consumption of these types of foods, Canadians will save on their food spendings.

Food Insecurity

The report says one in eight Canadian households is food insecure, and this year’s inflation will further strain families struggling to afford healthy food. Food insecurity is especially evident in the territories of Canada where Canadians pay triple as much for groceries as the rest of the country.



