Low-income families at risk as food costs rise, health unit reports

Rebecca Wright and Beatrice Fantoni

The latest data from the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit shows the cost to feed an average family of four has risen five per cent since last year.

According to the latest Nutritious Food Basket Survey, the average cost for food for a family of four in Windsor-Essex is now $179.54 per week.

Last year’s survey put the cost at $170.23 per week.

With this increase, the problem of not being able to afford enough healthy and nutritious food becomes a greater concern for families living at low-income levels in the community, said Jennifer Jacob, public health nutritionist and registered dietitian at the health unit.

“We know that when money is tight, people are forced to cut into their food budget to pay for other living expenses,” said Jacob, whose report, The Real Cost of Eating Well in Windsor-Essex, outlines the findings of this year’s survey.

“They skip meals, eat fewer vegetables and fruit, drink less milk and fill up on non-nutritious foods that cost less,” said Jacob. “The result of this unhealthy diet over time is an increased risk of chronic illness, and poor growth and development in children.”

The health unit crunched some more numbers to see where the increase in the cost for food might leave a family which relies on minimum wage. They estimate a family that relies on a minimum wage income has as little as $65 per week to spend on food.

Jacob said there are many people who work part-time in the area, making minimum wage, who have become “working poor,” and rely heavily on local food banks just to overcome hunger, putting nutrition on the back burner.

A single male on Ontario Works, who brings in $688 in income and benefits, would have less than $200 a month left for food – and that’s after just paying rent, according to the report.

The amount of money left over for many families and individuals in the area just isn’t enough to purchase the amount of healthy food needed for proper nourishment, said Jacob.

Dan Zaccagnini, owner of Zaccagnini Meats at the Market Square, said he’s noticed many of his customers cutting back on the type and amount of meat they’re buying due to rising costs in recent years.

“Now, sometimes I see people instead of once a week buying fresh meat, they’ll get it once a month,” said Zaccagnini Saturday. “Or some people were saying before they could afford a steak or prime rib roast, but now they have to have hamburgers and hot dogs, which is a cheaper cut and not as healthy as your regular protein steaks.”

In a city hit hard by unemployment and where many residents rely on social assistance, the rising cost of healthy food is a concern for the city, said Jacob. She said people who can’t regularly access healthy foods are more likely to suffer from poor overall health or chronic health conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

Kerry Hric, owner of Hric’s Orchards at the Market Square, said the cost to produce healthy food has become more expensive – so that means the cost to the consumer also rises – but this unfortunately equates to many having to sacrifice nutrition.

“We definitely have to bring up people’s lower incomes, like people on social assistance definitely need more,” said Hric. “They pretty much have no choice sometimes but to buy the processed foods at the groceries stores, which are cheaper, but definitely not as healthy.”

The health unit conducts the Nutritious Food Basket survey every year, tallying up the cost of 67 basic food items at nine different grocery stores in Windsor-Essex. Health units across Ontario conduct the same survey yearly.

Items such as baby formula, processed foods, condiments or personal care items are not included in the survey. The survey chooses items that meet the guidelines of the Canada Food Guide.

As part of the survey, the health unit makes food cost calculations for different household make-ups, including families with children as well as single-person households and seniors living alone. (PDF of survey here: http://www.wechealthunit.org/healthy-living/nutrition/nutritious-food-basket/WECHU_CostOfEating.pdf/file_view?portal_status_message=Changes%20saved.)

Families with children where both parents rely on Ontario Works are also at a disadvantage when it comes to accessing healthy food. After paying the rent and spending $777.41 for just basic healthy foods, they are left with just over $400 to cover all other expenses for the month.

A single mother with two children currently on Ontario Works will likely spend 70 per cent of her income on rent and food, the health unit estimates.

In the report, the health unit calls for a focus on eliminating poverty as the way to improve the community’s overall health. Jacob calls for grassroots changes – such as improved social assistance, more affordable housing policies and accessible and affordable child care – to help overcome poverty within Windsor-Essex and to free up more money for individuals and families to be able to afford more healthy food.

More to come.