February 3, 2026
RED FM News Desk
Canadians could see food prices climb again in 2026, with meat especially beef leading the increase, according to new research from Dalhousie University.
The annual Canada’s Food Price Report projects overall grocery prices will rise between four and six per cent next year. Beef prices alone could jump by as much as seven per cent, driven by shrinking cattle herds, trade vulnerabilities and ranchers exiting the industry.
Researchers say the tight beef supply is expected to persist through 2027, pushing consumers toward alternatives like chicken which is also becoming more expensive as demand grows.
“The entire meat category is going to cost more,” said Sylvain Charlebois, director of Dalhousie’s Agri-Food Analytics Lab. “Unfortunately, there’s no real refuge from price increases.”
Charlebois added that pantry staples found in the middle aisles of grocery stores, long seen as a buffer against inflation, may also rise in price after years of stability.
Food insecurity remains a growing concern. Food Banks Canada estimates roughly one in four Canadians lives in a food-insecure household. In Toronto alone, Daily Bread Food Bank now serves about 330,000 clients each month, up sharply from pre-pandemic levels.
With grocery costs already climbing, many shoppers say they are cutting back, buying less meat, shopping sales, and sticking to essentials.
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