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Low Income a Barrier to Healthy Eating

11/19/2009 3:37:47 PM

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2009

A report on what it costs to eat in the Sudbury and Manitoulin districts has prompted the Sudbury & District Board of Health to call upon the Government of Ontario to renew its efforts to ensure that Ontario's Poverty Reduction Strategy remains a high priority. The report, Nutritious Food Basket -The Cost of Eating in the Sudbury and Manitoulin Districts 2009 , was released at the Board's Thursday, November 19 meeting.

The Board passed a motion asking the provincial government to increase Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Programs by providing a monthly $100 Healthy Food Supplement to all adults receiving social assistance. The motion also asked the provincial government to establish a broad-based rental allowance program for all low-income people.

The report shows that it costs about $187 a week ($813 a month) for a family of four (two parents with two children) in the Sudbury and Manitoulin districts to buy groceries that meet the basic nutritional requirements of each family member. After rent and food costs are considered, a family of four on social assistance has just $76 left over for other basic necessities.

By comparison, a family of four with an average income, which is $5,781 per month according to Statistics Canada, has about $4,053 per month to spend on other necessities such as heat and hydro, telephone services, transportation and personal care products.

"The choice for many low-income earners is not between a generic and name-brand food product. It is the choice between food and hunger," said Ron Dupuis, Board of Health chair. "Treating and managing these conditions costs more than it would to prevent them. By eliminating poverty, healthy eating would be within people's reach," added Dupuis.

The list of 67 food items included in the Nutritious Food Basket survey was recently updated. Due to changes to this list, and to the survey tool, the average cost of the 2009 Nutritious Food Basket cannot be compared with previous years.

In accordance with the Ontario Public Health Standards, the Sudbury & District Health Unit uses the Nutritious Food Basket survey tool each year to measure the cost of basic healthy eating, and each year the results show that low-income households struggle to pay rent, bills and to buy healthy food.

The Nutritious Food Basket - The Cost of Eating in the Sudbury and Manitoulin Districts 2009 report is available online at www.sdhu.com or by calling the Sudbury & District Health Unit at (705) 522-9200, ext. 257.

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