Big spikes in the numbers of people using Food Banks during the pandemic has caused the Northumberland County area Health Unit to call for caution in food donations.
A newly-released report from Feed Ontario shows COVID-19 has led to a significant increase in food bank use in Ontario.
With the onset of COVID-19, Ontario food banks saw a 26% increase in first-time visitors between March and June 2020, according to the report. Manager of Health Protection for the Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge health unit Richard Ovcharovich says, with food bank use on the rise in this area as well, the need for donations has never been greater and that makes it important to ensure all items are healthy and safe.
He encourages people who are uncertain about giving food items to make a financial donation instead.
The health unit also advises that canned items that are dented create illness-causing germs, and to be aware of the expiry date on food containers.
“Especially things like bulging cans or rusted or damaged packages should not be donated. Also any food that doesn”t have a proper label on it should not be donated because it may contain some ingredients that people might be allergic to.”
“During COVID-19 and with the festive season on the horizon, donations to food banks are welcomed,” says Ovcharovich “By being informed and following guidelines, we can ensure donated food items are safe and do not pose a health risk.”
Ovcharovich also issues this information regarding food donations to Food Banks:
Area residents are encouraged to follow these guidelines when donating to local food banks:
- Stay home if you are sick to prevent the spread of illness to others.
- Call the food bank in advance to see what food items are in high demand or what will be taken. You can also ask about any special COVID-19 precautions that are in place for making donations.
- When dropping off food items, wear a mask/face covering and keep two metres apart from others.
- If uncertain about giving food items to a food bank during COVID-19, consider making a financial donation instead to help the organization.
- Give food that is properly labeled. Unmarked foods may contain ingredients such as nuts that could pose an allergy risk to other people.
- Donate canned items that are in good shape. If canned items are dented, bulging, rusted or damaged, they may allow illness-causing germs to get into the food which can produce a dangerous toxin like botulism.
- Be aware of the expiry date on the food item and consider donating food that you would serve to your own family as well.
- Ensure all packages or containers of food are properly sealed. Opened and partially-used foods cannot be distributed for food safety reasons.
- ‘Fresh’ items like turkeys or vegetables have a short shelf life and have to be distributed in a short time period. In these cases, a financial donation or gift certificate may be more appropriate so that food bank staff and volunteers can buy these items for their clients.
- Donate foods that encourage healthy eating. For example, consider donating items that are lower in fat, sugar or salt. In the case of grain products, consider donating whole grain products.
Public Health Inspectors with the Health Unit work closely with food bank staff in Haliburton County, Northumberland County and the City of Kawartha Lakes to ensure the safety of food. Regular and routine inspections of these food premises are done, and the Health Unit also provides guidelines to food banks for the safe handling, storage and distribution of food.
