In The Media

Our research and reporting of national food insecurity statistics has been widely covered in the media. This coverage has been important for elevating public awareness of the extent and impact of food insecurity, and highlighting the evidence for policies that improve incomes as effective solutions. The following is a small collection of select written media coverage. PROOF investigators also regularly contribute commentaries and appear in video and radio news.

Last updated: 2023-5-25

Food insecurity statistics

Our status reports, first published in 2013, have made food insecurity statistics accessible to the public and garnered widespread media attention across Canada for almost a decade. By popularizing food insecurity statistics, we’ve drawn attention to the extent of the problem and highlighted the importance of systematic monitoring.

‘People are struggling’: Almost 1 in 4 Nova Scotians are food insecure, data shows

CBC News, May 08, 2023

P.E.I. most food insecure province in the country in 2022

Saltwire, May 5, 2023

Report finds Albertans have highest rate of food insecurity in the country

CBC News, August 23, 2022

Alberta has highest food insecurity rate among Canadian provinces: report

Global News, August 23, 2022

N.B. has country’s second-highest rate of household food insecurity, says report

CBC News, August 19, 2022

Food insecurity down on P.E.I., but professor questions whether drop is sustainable

CBC News, August 19, 2022

Nearly 6 million people in Canada experienced food insecurity in 2021, U of T study says

CBC News, August 17, 2022

‘This is a very serious problem:’ New report shows food insecurity persists in Ontario

City News. August 16, 2022

‘A chronic problem’: New report says food insecurity in Canada remains at record highs

The Globe and Mail, August 16, 2022

U of T report shows food insecurity persists across Canada, varies by province

U of T News, August 16, 2022

More than 4.4 million Canadians say they feel food insecure due to financial constraints: report

The Globe and Mail, March 12, 2020

Studying Food Insecurity — With a Hole in the Data

U of T News, Dec 19, 2017

Public health experts blame Ontario government for gap in food insecurity data

The Globe and Mail, June 2017

Half a million people are going hungry in B.C., report says

Vancouver Sun, September 1, 2016

P.E.I. still worst province for children not getting enough healthy food

CBC News, April 7, 2016

Nunavut, Northwest Territories food insecurity reaches record level: study

CBC News, April 6, 2016

Many New Brunswickers struggle to afford food, report finds

CBC News, April 6, 2016

Food insecurity: Millions of Canadians struggle to put food on the table

Global News, February 6, 2014

Millions of working Canadians struggle to afford food: U of T report

U of T News, February 06, 2014

Food insecurity and public policy

Our examinations of policy interventions like public pensions, social assistance reform, and child benefits demonstrate that improving household incomes can reduce food insecurity. Media coverage of this research has highlighted the need for this kind of policy action and the problem with policy directions like government funding for food charity or food waste diversion in the name of addressing food insecurity.

N.B. makes no headway on poverty by treating symptoms, says economist

CBC, December 22, 2022

Why charity and food banks won’t solve Canada’s food insecurity problem as inflation rises

National Post, October 25, 2022

Record numbers of people using food banks need more government support, advocates warn

CBC News, July 19, 2022

Food bank numbers ‘grossly underestimate the severity of the problem’ in Metro Vancouver

CityNews Vancouver, May 26, 2022

Canada is facing a ‘terrible’ food crisis, says Maple Leaf CEO Michael McCain

The Globe and Mail, May 24, 2022

A glaring omission from Trudeau’s letters to his ministers: hunger

Maclean’s, Maclean’s, February 11, 2022

Experts say the ongoing need to end food insecurity has intensified amid the COVID-19 pandemic

CityNews Toronto, November 26, 2021

What happened to the Liberals’ concern about hunger and food insecurity?

Maclean’s, November 23, 2021

Rising inflation caused by COVID-19 will be struggle for many Canadians: expert

CTV News, October 20, 2021

How a province can help put food on tables

CBC News, June 18, 2021

What a tiny island province can teach Canada about food security

National Observer, June 11, 2021

Policies on minimum wage, income tax have a direct effect on who goes hungry: researcher

CBC News, May 29, 2021

PEI plan to eliminate food insecurity ‘precedent setting’

CBC News. April 26, 2021

Food banks don’t reduce food insecurity, so why did the federal government give them $200 million in emergency aid?

Toronto Star, January 26, 2021

Food banks aren’t the answer to hunger, researchers say

National Observer, December 8 2020

Canada Child Benefit helped reduce number of families with severe food insecurity: study

Global News, November 7, 2019

Canada Child Benefit helped reduce severe food insecurity, U of T study finds

U of T News, November 6, 2019

3 reasons reducing food waste won’t reduce food insecurity

CBC News, December 12, 2017

NL’s food insecurity dramatically reduced: study

SaltWire, Sept. 29, 2017

The Poor Need a Guaranteed Income, Not Our Charity

The Walrus, July 6, 2017

Guaranteed income is a solution to food insecurity: report

Radio Canada International, July 3, 2017

A guaranteed basic income could lead to healthier British Columbians, says author of new report

Global News, June 17, 2017

Basic income best way to help families reliably put food on the table: report

Global News, June 15, 2017

Basic income can reduce food insecurity and improve health, says U of T expert

U of T News, November 18, 2016

Basic income a solution to food insecurity, says professor

CBC News, November 18, 2016

Expanding the understanding of food insecurity

Our research has shed light on who are most vulnerable to food insecurity, what it means to be food-insecure, and the wide toll on health and wellbeing. The findings and media coverage help shift the narrative away from food insecurity being simply a problem of not having enough food. Food insecurity is a marker of broader material deprivation and a reflection of poverty, systemic racism, and colonialism, requiring solutions that address these root causes.

Soaring food prices could have major impact on Canadians’ health

CBC News, November 05, 2022

Food as medicine: Programs, doctors look to fill nutrition prescription

The Globe and Mail, February 26, 2022

Trouble affording food linked to higher risk of premature death in Canada

CTV News, January 20, 2020

Black families twice as likely to go hungry as white households, study shows

Toronto Star, October 23, 2019

Food insecurity worse for black Canadians than white Canadians, report finds

The Globe and Mail, October 23, 2019

Food insecure Canadian households may have trouble affording prescription medication, study shows

University of Illinois News, October 7, 2019

Risk factors for food insecurity include income supports, location and Indigenous status: U of T study

U of T News, February 05, 2019

Busting myths about food insecurity: Community gardens, subsidized housing not answers

CBC News, March 14, 2017

Women in food-insecure households stop exclusive breastfeeding sooner: study – National

Global News, March 19, 2018

Food insecurity ups health care costs: study

Radio Canada International, August 12, 2015

How hunger leads to higher health-care costs

U of T News, August 10, 2015

Lack of proper access to food costs the health care system: study

Global News, August 10, 2015

Food insecurity takes ‘significant toll’ on health care system: study

CTV News, August 10, 2015

Poor access to food means poor health: researcher

Sudbury.com, July 4, 2015

Pauvre santé

La Presse, April 15, 2015

Nutrition North Canada

Our research found that food insecurity in Nunavut had worsened following the introduction of Nutrition North Canada, highlighting the need for more effective initiatives to address food insecurity in the North. The findings garnered attention to the high rate of food insecurity in Nunavut and long-standing calls from Inuit and Northern communities for policy action, including reform of the subsidy program.

The case for abolishing Nutrition North

iPolitics, September 7, 2022

‘The model doesn’t make any sense’: Senators, Inuit orgs call for Nutrition North transformation

The Hill Times. May 29, 2019

Food insecurity in Nunavut rose 13.5 per cent during transition to Nutrition North, according to study

Nunavut News. May 23, 2019

Food Insecurity in Nunavut Jumped After New Federal Subsidy Program Began, U of T Research Shows

U of T News. May 21, 2019

Food insecurity grew in Nunavut after federal program to fight hunger: study

Toronto Star. May 21, 2019

Food insecurity in Nunavut increased since introduction of federal program: report

The Globe and Mail. May 21, 2019

Food insecurity rising in Nunavut since launch of Nutrition North: study

CBC News. May 21, 2019

Food insecurity grew in Nunavut after federal program to fight hunger: study

APTN National News. May 21, 2019

Fed Up – Food insecurity in Newfoundland and Labrador

Fed Up is a CBC series, in collaboration with Food First NL, that has regularly highlighted our research as part of its coverage on food insecurity in Newfoundland and Labrador. In 2021, it won a Radio Television Digital News Association award for Continuing Coverage.

Want to lower food insecurity rates? Experts say systemic change is needed

CBC, Jan 18, 2021

N.L.’s fall from grace on food insecurity record ‘disturbing’

CBC, Feb 22, 2020

Single parents hit hard by food insecurity

CBC, February 19, 2020

Why is food insecurity such a big issue in N.L.?

CBC, Feb 17, 2020

Fed Up series explores food insecurity in NL

CBC, Feb 10, 2020

International coverage

In addition to attention from the international research community, our work has also received international media coverage in recognition of the implications for understanding and addressing food insecurity in other high-income countries.

How doctors can help end food insecurity

The BMJ, January 13, 2021

Millions go hungry in wealthy Canada – and some die young as a result

Reuters, January 20, 2020

Even in a Wealthy Country, Going Hungry Can Mean Shorter Lifespan

U.S. News, January 20, 2020

The long-term effects of going hungry

BBC Future, April 9, 2019

“Food Won’t Solve Hunger. Income Will.”

Food Tank, March 25, 2019

Researchers Find Food Insecurity “A Key Contributor to Poor Health and Higher Costs” in Canada

Food Tank, June 23, 2017

How food insecurity is adding to our health care costs

Urban Institute, August 25, 2015

PROOF researchers regularly provide interviews on food insecurity in Canada.