Food Bank Users in and Around the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada, Are Characterized by Food Insecurity and Poor Produce Intake

This study examined the (1) food security status, produce intake, and produce-related behaviors of food bank clients from 4 food banks in and around British Columbia's (BC's) lower mainland; (2) differences in food security status, produce intake, and produce-related behaviors among those 4 food banks; and (3) relationship of food security status to produce intake and produce-related behaviors in food bank clients from 4 food banks in and around BC's lower mainland. Participants (n = 528) attended one of 4 food banks in BC. Overall, only 4.7% of food bank users in our sample lived in food secure households. These data are in stark contrast to Health Canada's 2007–2008 data estimating that food insecurity affected 7.7% of households in BC (4.8% moderately food insecure, 2.9 severely food insecure). Daily vegetable intake (1.7 ± 1.9; n = 474; P = .292), daily fruit intake (1.3 ± 1.6; n = 478; P = .935), and daily total produce intake (3.0 ± 2.9; n = 474; P = .548) were less than Health Canada recommendations, and produce intake worsened with worsening food insecurity. Strategies are needed to improve food bank users' access to adequate foods, especially produce, for an active and healthy life. Though assisting food banks and other charitable agencies in securing wholesome foods may help to improve food access and nutrition outcomes of their clients, improving incomes and access to other resources by individuals and households using charitable food sources is needed to improve food access for all Canadians in a sustainable fashion.