The Trudeau government has broken the economy so badly that over half of Canadians say they have considered eating expired food to save on grocery bills.
According to a Dalhousie University study of 9,109 Canadians across the country, 58% say they’re now more willing to eat expired food than previously due to rising prices, while only 37% say that rising prices haven’t changed their eating habits.
Additionally, among those who say they’re more willing to eat expired food, 23.1% say they never throw out expired food or food that looks ‘overripe’. This comes as Canadians flock to food banks in numbers not seen since the Great Depression, with even members of the Armed Forces relying on donations.
“The findings from our study at the Agri-Food Analytics Lab highlight a concerning trend: as food prices climb, more Canadians are taking risks with their food safety. 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,” said Sylvain Charlebois, Director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University.
Expired food is making Canadians sick
According to the survey, a total of 20% of Canadians believe they have experienced health issues or food poisoning related to the consumption of expired food. Broken down by generation, this gives 10% of Gen Z, 41% of Millennials, 24% of Gen X, 20% of Baby Boomers, and 10% of the ‘Greatest Generation’.
Additionally, 47% of Canadians say they’ve changed their approach to food storage in an effort to extend the shelf life of food long before its expiration date (i.e., by freezing, vacuum sealing, etc.).
In total, 50.1% of Canadians “believe food inflation and higher food prices have forced them to take more risks with their food.”
