Huron Perth Public Health has released its Real Cost of Eating in Huron and Perth report.
The report breaks down food costs for families across the area in the last year which showed the cost of groceries for a family of four was $267 per week though this number does not factor in non food items such as personal care, cleaning products or toiletries.
The cost of groceries was determined by adding up the average retail price of 61 food items at 8 local stories.
The items meet national nutrition recommendations and assume people have the time, skill and equipment to prepared them.
The report notes food costs and cost of living on the rise, more people are seeing household food insecurity. Its estimated 18 per cent of households in southwestern Ontario reported experiencing food insecurity in 2022.