A family of four in Windsor-Essex is spending $91 more per month on groceries in 2023 compared to what they spent in 2022, according to a report from the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.
Every year, the health unit surveys the price of food items from grocery stores across the city and county. Using a survey tool called the Ontario Nutritious Food Basket, the cost of one week’s worth of groceries is calculated.
The report found that a family of four spends an average of $262.68 per week on groceries or $1,137.39 per month.
The figure is an 8.7 per cent increase over the $241.66 being spent per week or $1,046.39 per month in 2022.
To arrive at this cost, 61 food items in eleven area grocery stores were priced by calculating the average lowest retail price. This included in-store shopping, as well as online shopping. The items included meet recommendations from Canada’s Food Guide, with the assumption that people have the time, skill, and equipment needed to cook low-cost staples.
Karen Bellemore, Registered Dietician with the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit, says the impact of these figures is significant for a family of four because this cost is only for 61 food items.
"It does not include any household items purchases like paper towels or toilet paper, no cleaning products, no hygiene products," she says. "The grocery bill that a family will actually see at the grocery store will be higher than that, that is a base only for food and only for what a person would need based on the Canada Food Guide."
Bellemore says they really see an impact in those who are skipping meals or not being able to eat due to food insecurity.
"Not being able to perform mentally as strongly as they want, there's other impacts such as increased instances of anxiety and depression in adults. Pregnant women will see more mood disorders pre-natal. Children who live in food insecure households have a higher increase in anxiety and depression as well," she says.
Bellemore says when someone is facing food insecurity, their risk of chronic conditions significantly increases and there's a risk of delaying doctor and dentist visits because those are costly.
"We see people at the hospital in much more significant poor health than somebody who is food secure. It's been estimated that people who are food insecure spend 121 per cent more than someone who is food secure on something like medication," she adds.
The report lists food insecurity as a serious public health problem that can have severe negative impacts on physical health, mental health, the healthcare system, and overall social well-being.
Click here to read the full report.