Report says nutritious food unaffordable for some Brant/Brantford residents

Eating nutritiously is financially out of reach for some of the community’s most vulnerable residents, says a survey conducted by the Brant County Health Unit.

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The health unit monitors the affordability of food in Brantford and the County of Brant using the Nutritious Food Basket survey. The survey calculates the average lowest cost of each food item (fruits, vegetables, protein foods, whole grains) for individuals in various age and sex groups, and the monthly cost of nutritious eating for different household types.

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Food prices were collected from 14 grocery stores across Brant and Brantford in May.

The 2023 Food Affordability in Brant report summarizes the survey results by presenting them by various household income, rental and food cost situations.

Among the key findings in Brantford/Brantare:

• Low-income individuals and families are required to pay a significant proportion of their income on food and shelter, leaving them with limited or no funds to pay for other necessities.
• One in six households are considered food insecure, meaning they have inadequate access to nutritious food due to lack of money.
• Long-term, income-based strategies are needed to help individuals and families afford the cost of living.

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The survey determined the cost of food for a family with two adults and two children at $1,158 a month. For two adults the cost is $693; for one adult, $416; and one senior, $299.

Individuals and families on low incomes are required to spend a higher share of their income to eat nutritious food. For example, a family of four and a single person receiving Ontario Works would have to spend 41 per cent and 48 per cent of their incomes respectively on food, according to the report.

After for food and rent, says paying the report, there’s little or no money left for other necessities, including phone bills, transportation, childcare, medication and household and personal care items.

“The situation is dire for single-person households living on social assistance who would be in debt to pay for just food and rent at the end of the month,” said the report.

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A single pregnant person and a one-person household on the Ontario Disability Support Program would be in debt $151 and $212 respectively after paying for rent and food.

The situation is most critical for a person living alone on the Ontario Works program. With a monthly income of $865, the survey calculated rent at $885 and food at $416, leaving that person $436 in debt at the end of each month.

“One way people with low incomes cope with food affordability is by reducing the quality or quantity of food they eat,” said Lisa Vermeersch, public health dietitian at the health unit.

“Everyone has different coping strategies, however, households with food insecurity are more likely to experience infectious diseases, depression, anxiety, heart disease, hypertension, chronic pain and increased risk of diabetes.”

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The report offers several suggestions, including advocating for policies and programs that improve the financial conditions of low-household income, such as a basic income guarantee, adequate social assistance benefits, increased minimum wage, affordable housing, public transit and childcare.

The report also calls for acknowledgment that charitable food programs, such as food banks, “have not shown a meaningful decline in the prevalence of household food insecurity, as they fail to address the underlying issue of adequate income.”

While Vermeersch said the programs are filling an immediate need, she said permanent solutions are vital.

“Increasing low incomes could reduce reliance on charitable food programs and contribute to a decrease in food insecurity rates. It’s crucial for all levels of government to recognize and help address this issue.”

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