Food Expenditure Survey

The Food Expenditure Survey is conducted periodically by Statistics Canada to provide information on household food expenditures, which includes foods purchased from stores as well as meals bought in restaurants. The information is obtained from private households in urban and rural areas in Canada's 10 provinces as well as in Whitehorse, Yellowknife and Iqaluit. The results of the survey can be presented by household income and size as well as by regions in Canada.

Historically these data informed decisions around dietary guidance including Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating (1992) and the National Nutritious Food Basket (1998). Changes in food purchasing patterns can also be identified and monitored by comparing survey results over time.