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National food policy pitched in Flemingdon Park
LISA QUEEN, InsideToronto.com
August 6, 2010
Using "food desert" Flemingdon Park as a backdrop, FoodShare Toronto, Canada's largest community food security organization, released a poll saying most Canadians want a national food policy and federal action on childhood nutrition.
While widespread support for good nutrition isn't surprising, the survey shows Canadians are looking for more formal programs related to what they and their children are putting in their mouths, said Meredith Hayes, FoodShare's Field to Table Schools and Youth Engagement program manager.
"We were feeling pretty confident those (Canadians supporting wholesome food issues) would be the result, but 82 per cent feel food literacy programs in schools are important," she said at a press conference Thursday, Aug. 5.
"(Canadians not only want to) make sure they have access to good, healthy food but they want students to know where it comes from, where it is grown and how to cook it."
According to the poll, 85 per cent of Canadians want federal and provincial governments to work together to provide universal access to healthy snacks and lunches for all school children.
The survey also found 86 per cent want the province to support farmers who grow food for school cafeterias and student nutrition programs, 77 per cent favour banning fast food outlets in schools and 66 per cent want to ban junk food advertising aimed at children.
There are nutrition programs in Toronto - Hayes said about 800 programs in schools and community centres provide breakfast, lunch and snack programs - but they are spotty around the city.
While government funding covers 25 per cent of the food, three-quarters of the cost must be picked up by community fundraising, Hayes said. Also, the programs are usually staffed by volunteers.
Between the lack of adequate funding and shoestring volunteer staff, the sustainability of the programs in always questionable, Hayes said.
Releasing the results of the survey at FoodShare's Good Food Market in Flemingdon Park, run in partnership with the Flemingdon Health Centre, was significant, said Don Valley West MP Rob Oliphant, who attended the event.
The high-priority neighbourhood is a "food desert" without a grocery store within walking distance.
The lone grocery store closed about three years ago and the building is now occupied by a major drug store. An Asian grocery store in the community is now under construction.
Buying groceries outside the community can be a half-day trek for residents, Oliphant said.
As Canada faces a growing epidemic of obesity and diabetes, he said it is important for all levels of government to focus on food literacy and nutrition.
"We are what we eat. Right now, I may be processed food because I'm eating too much processed food," joked Oliphant, adding he made a point of buying a basket of Ontario peaches last weekend.
If elected, the federal Liberals would adopt Canada's first national food policy focusing on healthy living, safe food and inspections, sustainable farm incomes, environmental farmland stewardship and international leadership.
Oliphant could not provide a price tag for the policy but said the Liberals would review all federal programs related to food.
"We think there is a fair amount of money in the system being wasted," he said. "We are saying every program is up for grabs. We are not saying every program will disappear, It (Canada's food system) is like a family cottage that kept getting added on to and nobody said we have to stop (and assess its success)."
