Tackling the top 3 myths about food insecurity

Today, food insecurity is at a generational high in Canada, affecting folks from all walks of life. Without a comprehensive national plan that addresses its root causes, we can expect these rates to remain unacceptably high or increase even further.

Correcting common myths about food insecurity

There are several misconceptions about food insecurity that obscure its root causes and lead us to focus on the wrong solutions.

Myth 1: Food insecurity only affects people who are unemployed and living in deep poverty.

Reality: Food insecurity increasingly affects people with paid employment. This indicates that employment is no longer a guarantee that a household can afford the basics. Stagnant wages, rising housing costs, and the high cost of living mean many working people can’t afford the food they need. In fact, about 60% of food-insecure households in Canada rely primarily on wages or salaries (i.e., employment) as their main source of income.

The problem isn’t that people aren’t working. It’s that too many jobs no longer pay enough to support a dignified standard of living. Having a job is no longer a path out of hardship.

Myth 2: Food insecurity happens because people make poor choices.

Reality: Food insecurity isn’t the result of bad budgeting or poor decisions. It is driven by inadequate incomes and the rising costs of essentials. Research consistently shows that wages, housing costs, and the adequacy of income supports are the strongest predictors of whether a household will experience food insecurity.

When rent, utilities, and food prices rise faster than wages or government benefits, households are forced to make impossible trade-offs. Because food is often the most flexible part of a household budget, it is typically the first expense people reduce—not because they want to, but because there is no other choice.

Food insecurity is not a personal failure. It is a policy failure that leaves millions of people without enough income to meet their basic needs.

Myth 3: Food insecurity has always existed and nothing can change it.

Reality: Food insecurity is not inevitable. Food insecurity rates respond to policy. Evidence shows that strong income supports and social programs reduce food insecurity. For example, temporary income measures during the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with significant reductions in food insecurity and poverty rates nationwide. Similarly, older adults experience much lower rates of food insecurity than other age groups because programs such as Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement provide a more robust income floor. Today, families with children are about twice as likely to experience food insecurity as seniors.

These examples show that food insecurity isn’t an unavoidable feature of modern life. It is the result of policy choices. When governments ensure that people have adequate incomes, fewer households struggle to afford food.

Food insecurity has risen over the last 10 years

Over the past decade, food insecurity in Canada has risen significantly. In 2017 and 2018, about 10 to 12 percent of households experienced food insecurity. By 2022, that number rose to 15.6 percent of households.

The most recent data shows the situation has worsened significantly. Statistics Canada data for 2024 estimates that 24 percent of people in Canada lived in a household experiencing food insecurity.

While food insecurity affects people from all walks of life, some communities face a much higher risk because of longstanding economic and social inequities. Households led by single mothers, Indigenous Peoples, Black Canadians, recent immigrants, people with disabilities, and those who rent their homes experience much higher rates of food insecurity. Children are also particularly affected, with nearly one in three children growing up in food-insecure households.

Inflation has also made the problem worse. According to Statistics Canada, food prices rose sharply beginning in 2021 and remained elevated through 2022 and 2023, putting additional strain on household budgets.

These disparities are not inevitable. They are the product of policy choices that shape how wealth is distributed, how strong our social safety net is, and who has access to the resources needed to live with dignity.

Together, we can solve food insecurity

Despite the noise out there, in a country as wealthy as Canada, food insecurity is entirely solvable! Adequate income supports, living wages, and a strong social safety net are part of the solution.

Right To Food exists because we believe everyone in Canada deserves reliable access to nutritious food—and because we know the government plays an important role in upholding the right to food for all residents. We work to advance policy solutions that address the root causes of food insecurity, not just the symptoms. By raising awareness, advocating for stronger supports, and challenging harmful myths, we aim to build a future where no one has to choose between paying bills and buying groceries.

Food insecurity is not a personal failure, and it is not inevitable. With informed policy, collective advocacy, and government leadership, we can reduce food insecurity in Canada and ensure that everyone has the food they need to live with dignity.

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