High food prices: A threat to health
Some consequences of the economic downturn are obvious, such as lost jobs and plunging stock market values. But others are more subtle but also important, as described in the article “High food prices threat to health” from the Toronto Star:
There are “startling discrepancies” in the cost of basic, healthy food at grocery stores across Canada, according to a report released today by the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Some Canadians, depending on where they live, are paying between two and six times more money for the same grocery cart of healthy foods.
A healthy diet is a key factor in preventing heart disease – the number one killer of men and women in Canada. Studies have shown that eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains can reduce the risk of heart disease by 30 per cent. Many provincial governments legislate the price of alcohol, but there are no regulations to ensure access to healthy food.
Considering your own eating habits, have they changed recently? Are you buying cheaper but less healthy food?
