| This study examines the incidence and correlates of acute hunger among Toronto food bank recipients from 1992 to 2001. Secondary data analyses were conducted using 7 years of cross-sectional data from the Daily Bread and North York Harvest Food Banks' annual recipient survey. In total, 5,527 respondents had valid hunger responses. Respondents who experienced hunger or going without food at least once per week for financial reasons were considered in acute hunger. The incidence of acute hunger significantly increased after 1996, affecting 42.3% of food bank recipients compared to 33.3% prior to 1996. Time period, younger age, not completing high school, less household income after housing costs, more frequent food bank use and having a disability was associated with increased odds of acute hunger in multivariate analyses. These findings are considered in the context of welfare state retrenchment at the federal and provincial levels. Health and societal consequences are discussed. |
