Food Banks and Food Security

Food Banks Food banks in the GTA aim to help those who are FOOD INSECURE That is, those who don’t have reliable, secure access to food Numbers of food bank users have increased in the GTA over the last 8-10 years client visits were down 16 per cent compared to 2008 while visits in Toronto's inner suburbs increased 45 per cent over the same period. Overall, food bank visits are up 12 per cent across the city Food bank users are the working poor, disabled people, recently laid off people, those on social assistance What about homeless people? Food banks believe that food security is a basic human right.

The five components of Food Security Availability- sufficient food for all people at all times   Accessibility- physical and economic access to food for all at all times Adequacy- access to food that is nutritious and safe Acceptability- access to culturally acceptable food, which is produced and obtained in ways that do not compromise people's dignity, self-respect or human rights Agency- the policies and processes that enable the achievement of food security

Food Hampers One way food banks attempt to increase the food security of people is by distributing food hampers. These food hampers are limited in availability – for example, you can access 4 a year, or 7 a year, or 10 a year, depending on the food bank Can usually only use a food bank in your catchment area – although a few don’t look at your address

Dietary Restrictions While the food hampers are very basic, many food banks now provide some choice, often on the basic of dietary restrictions (but sometimes on the basis of preference – seen as important for maintaining DIGNITY). For ie, Celiac: available to clients with Celiac disease (includes gluten-free specialty items like soup, cereal, pasta and bread) Renal Care: for clients with kidney disease (includes low sodium, low potassium and minimally processed foods) Prenatal nutrition: provided to low-income expectant mothers Baby Food & Formula: provides baby food, formulas and diapers to mothers with new babies Vegetarian: includes high-protien foods for clients who cannot or do not eat meat to ensure they still receive adequate nutrition Halal (Islamic dietary law), kosher, (Jewish dietary law), etc.  religious food restrictions

Metro Morning Interview http://www.cbc.ca/video/news/audioplayer.html?clipid=2675872480