High cost of food leading some Canadians to eat potentially unsafe food: study

A new study shows that some Canadians are compromising their health by eating potentially unsafe food with the cost of groceries being so high.

Dalhousie University’s Agri-Food Analytics Lab surveyed over 9,000 Canadians this month to see how they’re managing food safety risks amid rising costs.

Nearly 60 per cent of those interviewed say they were more inclined to eat food close to or past its best before date because they can’t afford to waste it.

And almost half of the Canadians who consume potentially risky food were uncertain about its safety.

READ MORE: Here’s how much food prices are set to rise in 2024: report

The survey also asked if any participants experienced health issues or food poisoning that they think were from eating food past its best before date.

The results showed that 41 percent of millennials believed they did, the highest out of the five generations.

That percentage varies dramatically based on each generation, giving a good indication of which generations are under more pressure due to high food prices.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency estimates that more than four million Canadians are affected by foodborne illnesses each year.

READ MORE: High grocery prices have customers searching for better deals across Ontario

When it comes to stretching the shelf life of food, 47 per cent of Canadians say they have changed their habits to keep food fresher longer, including freezing bread to prevent mold or using vacuum-sealed containers for leftovers.

Sylvain Charlebois, the director of the agri-food analytics lab that did this study, says this behavior, driven by economic necessity, exposes a critical vulnerability in our food system where food security and food safety intersect.

“It’s imperative that we address these issues collectively to ensure that no Canadian must choose between economic hardship and their health,” Charlebois says.