Food insecurity, or more precisely household food insecurity (HFI), is measured in Canada and Ontario at the household level using the Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM), administered in national surveys by Statistics Canada. The HFSSM questions ask specifically about experiences of food deprivation because of a lack of money for food. Food insecurity is included on Canada’s Official Poverty Dashboard of Indicators.
The Household Food Insecurity Snapshot updated annually by Public Health Ontario reports prevalence estimates of HFI provincially, regionally, and on the local public health unit level.
While the association between income and HFI is complex, there is a well-established inverse relationship between income, and risk and severity of household food insecurity. HFI is associated with poorer diet quality and a wide range of negative diet-related and non-diet related physical and mental health outcomes among children and adults.
Research led by Food Insecurity Policy Research (PROOF) and our Position Statement and Recommendations on Responses to Food Insecurity highlight the need for policy makers to shift their focus from food charity to public policies that increase the incomes of vulnerable households.
Ontario PHUs monitor HFI prevalence and food affordability.
ODPH supports our members with updated methodology and tools for monitoring food affordability. While tools and methods are centralized through ODPH, local PHUs collect and report on their own food costs and food affordability. Local data collection and reporting allows for monitoring, education, and mobilization at the community level. Local food affordability data are used by PHUs, shared with relevant community partners, and help inform public health program planning and policy decisions.
In 2024, ODPH collaborated with Public Health Ontario to combine food cost data from 32 PHUs to provide a provincial picture of food affordability.
Provincial Report:
Food Insecurity & Food Affordability in Ontario
L’insécurité alimentaire et l’abordabilité des aliments en Ontario
Technical Appendix:
Technical Appendix – Food Insecurity & Food Affordability in Ontario
Annexe technique – L’insécurité alimentaire et l’abordabilité des aliments en Ontario
Infographic:
Food Insecurity and Food Affordability in Ontario
L’insécurité alimentaire et l’abordabilité des aliments en Ontario
