Food insecurity expected to intensify amid rising food prices in 2022: Canada's Food Price Report

Food insecurity is expected to intensify as the price of food will continue to increase in the coming year, according to Canada's Food Price Report.

Food insecurity is expected to intensify as the price of food will continue to increase in the coming year, according to Canada's Food Price Report.

Canada's Food Price Report for 2022, which was released on Thursday by Dalhousie University and the University of Guelph, estimates overall food prices are going to increase up to seven per cent.

A family of four, the report estimated, will spend around $14,767 on food in 2022. This is an increase of more than $900 compared to 2021.

The rising food prices will hit some Canadians harder than others.

"Disproportionately higher food prices will have a more severe impact on women, Indigenous populations, people of colour and other vulnerable populations," the report reads.

The report said inflation hit an 18-year-high in 2021, driven by high oil costs, high housing costs and rising food prices. It pointed out that for the most part, wages and salaries have not kept pace with the increase in prices.

The report said because of the rising food prices and inflation rates, food insecurity is expected to become a growing issue in 2022.