Study shows low-income British Columbians can’t afford healthy food

Low-income British Columbians can’t afford healthy food.

Once the family on income assistance pays the rent, there is not enough money for healthy food, or any other costs of daily living. A family of 4 with 2 children on income assistance would need to spend more than 100% of their disposable income on shelter and healthy food, compared to a family with a median income (one earner) spending 48%. Many low income families struggle to afford food. While shelter and food costs have risen significantly minimum wage has remained at $8.00 hour. Without consistent economic access to enough nutritious food, healthy eating cannot be achieved and the risk of poor health increases.

The Cost of Eating Report in BC 2009 was released on December 15, 2009. The report includes food costing and follow-up recommendations such as: basing income assistance rates on actual costs of shelter, food and other necessities, increasing minimum wage and increasing quality affordable childcare and social housing.

The full report is available at www.dietitians.ca/bccostofeating.