The Sudbury and District Board of Health released its 2006 Nutritious Food Basket (NFB) Report Oct. 19, concluding that it costs $139.93 per week to buy enough nutritious food to feed a family of four.
The health unit says this is an 8.7 percent increase or an extra $11.20 per week when compared with 2005 figures.
"The proportion of income spent to buy nutritious food is high and increasing in our area," said Janet Gasparini, chair of the board of health, in a news release.
"The financial burden of eating well is especially an issue for families receiving social assistance. Today our board supported a motion calling on the provincial government to look at social assistance and minimum wage rates through the lens of healthy eating - to make sure they are high enough."
The 2006 NFB results indicate that for a family of four living on two social assistance incomes, almost 37% of their total welfare income is required to eat well. This is the highest percentage in the nine years that the NFB index has been calculated by the health unit.
The Nutritious Food Basket consists of 66 food items priced in 10 grocery stores throughout the Sudbury and Manitoulin districts. It does not include convenience foods, snack foods, eating out or personal hygiene and cleaning products.
"Although provincial and federal governments have made adjustments to minimum wage and various benefits and credits, low-income families are still struggling to eat nutritiously," said Bridget King, public health nutritionist with the health unit, in a news release.
For more information on the 2006 Nutritious Food Basket Report or on local food security initiatives, phone the Sudbury and District Health Unit at 522-9200, ext. 257.
