22-05-2025
Canada food crisis: One in three kids suffers from food insecurity, highest rate in 20 years
The demand for food assistance escalates dramatically as summer approaches, placing increased pressure on businesses and charities.
Danielle Seward, executive director of the Single Parents Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, describes the surge in food bank visits as 'exponential,' highlighting how the end of the school year leaves many families scrambling for snacks and lunches. 'It's a bit of an untold story,' Seward says, 'just how stressful the summer months can be for food-insecure single parents.'
Data from Statistics
Canada
reveals that close to 10 million Canadians now live in food-insecure households, a steep rise from 5.8 million in 2021. This includes marginal
food insecurity
, where households worry about running out of food, to severe cases where meals are skipped entirely.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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Food insecurity among children is even more alarming, with nearly 2.5 million kids affected, about one-third of all Canadian children. That estimate in Newfoundland and Labrador is even higher (40 per cent), tied with New Brunswick for the highest of the 10 provinces.
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According to the PROOF research program at the
University of Toronto
, the estimates are the highest in 20 years of monitoring.
Challenge for businesses and nonprofits
This growing food insecurity impacts businesses, from local grocery stores to larger food suppliers, as charitable organizations face increasing demand for donations and supplies.
In St. John's, Seward points out that 'it's not just single-parent families without a steady income,' but also 'professional, working single parents' who are increasingly food insecure.
The rising numbers push businesses and community groups to rethink their roles. Many are stepping up through partnerships with nonprofits to fundraise and support food bank programs, especially as demand spikes during summer when school meals are unavailable.
The nonprofit sector, traditionally reliant on donations and government support, now calls for innovative collaborations to meet growing needs.
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Government initiatives and school food programs
Provincial and federal governments are investing in school food programs, which serve as a crucial pressure release valve for families. Newfoundland and Labrador plan to expand a school lunch program currently serving 43 schools.
Ashley Byrne of Food First NL is coordinating consultations for this expansion, which will soon enter a competitive bidding process for service providers.
The federal government's national school food program, launched in September 2024 with a $1 billion budget over five years, aims to partner with provinces and businesses to broaden access.
This policy presents opportunities for companies involved in food production, distribution, and program delivery to participate in growing initiatives designed to combat food insecurity.
Brent Mansfield, an elementary school teacher from British Columbia, praises these programs, noting their impact on student focus and classroom engagement.
'When we offer school food programs in a non-stigmatizing way, they have that opportunity to be a great social equalizer,' he said.
