Urgency to secure funding for the promised national school food program amidst the rise of food costs and chronic disease

Authors

  • Flora Zhang University of Toronto
  • Amberley T. Ruetz University of Saskatchewan
  • Eric Ng University of Toronto

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15353/cjds.v11i2.681

Keywords:

public health, population health, Child Health, food policy, access to healthy foods, nutrition policy, school food, chronic disease

Abstract

An overwhelming number of Canadians believe that a national school food program (SFP) would benefit children, but concerns around limited funding are frequently raised. SFPs across Canada are struggling to meet increasing demands due to rising food costs, meaning that food quality and quantity within existing SFPs are suffering. This paper discusses the urgency to implement a cost-shared and federally funded SFP amidst the current economic context and lack of clear direction from the federal government. The paper also explores ways in which federal funding for school meals can help to reduce the rate of chronic diseases and actualize many proven physical and mental health benefits for Canadians, all of which have positive and long-term downstream effects on the country’s economy.

red currants in a small blue bowl on a white counter

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Published

2024-08-06

How to Cite

Zhang, F., Ruetz, A. T., & Ng, E. (2024). Urgency to secure funding for the promised national school food program amidst the rise of food costs and chronic disease. Canadian Food Studies La Revue Canadienne Des études Sur l’alimentation, 11(2), 16–24. https://doi.org/10.15353/cjds.v11i2.681

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 2 (2024): The Ten-Year Anniversary Issue

Section

Commentaries

License

Copyright (c) 2024 Flora Zhang, Amberley T. Ruetz, Eric Ng

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