Food Bank Visits in Canada Hit Record 2.3 Million as Cost-of-Living Pressures Mount
A new HungerCount report from Food Banks Canada reveals that food bank visits reached a record high of over 2.3 million in March 2026, an 8.7 per cent increase from the previous year. Nearly 10 million Canadians are experiencing food insecurity, with children accounting for more than a third of all visits.
Food bank visits across Canada reached a new record of more than 2.3 million in March 2026, according to the latest HungerCount report released by Food Banks Canada. The figure represents an 8.7 per cent increase from the March 2025 record of more than two million visits.
Nearly 10 million Canadians are currently experiencing food insecurity amid ongoing cost-of-living crises and economic pressures. Children accounted for more than a third of all food bank visits in March 2026, making nearly 776,000 visits.
The report highlights significant increases in essential costs since 2021. Food prices have risen by about 30 per cent, housing costs by 28 per cent, and transportation expenses by roughly 24 per cent. These compounding pressures have pushed many working individuals to seek assistance. Food Banks Canada CEO Kirstin Beardsley stated that having a job is no longer enough to ensure one does not need food bank services.
Many organizations are struggling to keep pace with the demand. One in five food banks across Canada are reportedly running out of food before meeting the needs of all their clients.
To address the crisis, the report recommends doubling the Canada Workers Benefit, expanding food sovereignty initiatives in the North, and investing up to $500 million toward food bank infrastructure.