Income-related food insecurity being discussed

A Fireside Chat was held today with participants from across Canada to discuss income-related food insecurity.  The Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance of Canada (CDPAC), in partnership with CHNET-works facilitated this information session for various health care workers and others who are involved in helping Canada's underprivileged population to improve their standard of living.

Defining terms

Food insecurity exists when a family unit is unable to acquire or consume an adequate diet quality or sufficient quantity of food in socially acceptable ways, or is uncertain that they will be able to do so" (Davis and Tarasuk, 1994).

The amount of food we consume depends on many factors.  In various parts of the world, economic factors, among others, determine the varying accessibility of food, and quantities vary consequentially.  Check out what one week's worth of food around our planet means to different families.

The presenters

Input for this session was provided by Dr. Valerie Tarasuk, Ph.D, from the University of Toronto; Dr. Elaine Power, Ph.D., Assistant Professor at Queens University (Kingston, ON), and Dr. John Millar, MD, Executive Director of Population Health Surveillance (British Columbia Provincial Health Authority).

Some statistics

Food insecurity affects 1.1 million households across Canada (Health Canada, 2007).  In general, this means that 9.2% of all households in Canada have difficulty with providing nutritious meals for their families.

Dealing with the problem

In response to this insecurity, a variety of programs have been developed across the country.  In 1981, the first Food Bank opened its doors and they have increased exponentially: there are more than 700 Food Banks currently operating across Canada.

In addition, various Soup Kitchens, Collective and Community Kitchens and various other initiatives have also appeared in order to alleviate the problem of hunger, but this is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

The presentation outlined the issue of food insecurity and suggested some possibilities for policy changes which might effect positive change for Canadians who find themselves in this situation.

Discussion about this issue continues, and there is a place at the table for various organisations, including Churches and faith based groups as well as local Health Units and many others who are concerned with justice and equity for all.