Temporal examination of adult food insecurity amongst Canadian families managing food allergy

BACKGROUND: Pediatric food allergy is associated with excess familial food costs compared to families without allergy.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, food prices have increased substantially.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the temporal pattern of food insecurity amongst Canadian families with food allergy from the year prior to the pandemic, through May 2022.

METHODS: Using data collected electronically from families reporting food allergy using a validated food security questionnaire, we estimated food insecurity, including categories of food insecurity (marginal, moderate, secure) in the year prior to the pandemic (2019; Wave 1), and the first (2020; Wave 2) and second years of the pandemic (2022; Wave 3).

RESULTS: Participants in all waves were commonly in 2 + adult, 2 child households.

Less than half of participants (Waves 1–3: 45.7%, 31.0%, and 22.9%, respectively) reported household incomes below the median Canadian.

Common allergies were milk, eggs, peanuts and tree nuts.

In Wave 1, 22.9% of families reported food insecurity; corresponding numbers at Waves 2 and 3 were 30.6% and 74.4%, respectively, representing an overall increase of 225.6%, including notable increases in severe food insecurity.

CONCLUSION: Canadian families with pediatric food allergy report higher rates of food insecurity compared to the general Canadian population, especially during the pandemic.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13223-023-00802-6.