Food waste in Canada is a massive problem, and honestly, it’s hard not to shake your head at the numbers. Studies show almost half of all food produced in Canada ends up in landfills, while 1 in 5 families struggle with food insecurity. It feels ironic that we’re literally throwing away what so many people desperately need.
According to city statistics, Toronto alone generates more than 99,000 tonnes of food waste a year, and more than half of it is avoidable. For individuals, the main causes are buying too much food or misunderstanding expiry dates. For producers, it often comes down to appearances—“ugly” fruits and vegetables are discarded simply because they don’t meet size, shape, or color standards.
A creative and affordable solution to food waste comes from Feed It Forward, a Toronto nonprofit running a pay-what-you-can grocery store. They rescue surplus produce from farms, retailers, and restaurants, ensuring food ends up on plates instead of in landfills.
Beyond the grocery store, Feed It Forward also runs a free food-sharing app. The app lets locals share extra food by uploading details about the type of food and pickup location. This builds stronger communities and healthier people by encouraging sharing instead of tossing. For some, it means less stress about affording the next meal, while for restaurants and farms, it’s a chance to connect with new customers by redistributing food that would otherwise go to waste.
Feed It Forward isn’t alone in this effort. Other food-sharing apps in Canada are also making an impact in reducing food waste and saving money. For example, Too Good To Go connects users with retailers offering surprise bags of leftover food at the end of the day, giving perfectly good meals a second chance.
With the cost of living rising and the housing crisis worsening, food insecurity is becoming a bigger issue in Canada. It’s hitting vulnerable groups the hardest—seniors, children, single mothers, people with disabilities, newcomers, and Black and Indigenous families. Solutions like food-sharing apps and nonprofits such as Feed It Forward are proving to be essential in both helping those in need and cutting down on unnecessary waste.
