Celiac, diabetic, halal: Edmonton’s Food Bank evolving to meet changing dietary, cultural needs

Alberta food banks are continuing to see a sharp rise in users, but the demand for culturally diverse food items is also seeing a surge.

One in four food bank clients identify as an immigrant, refugee or are from a visible minority group.

“We want to be as supportive as we can as an organization to that diversity,” said Tamisan Bencz-Knight, the manager of strategic relationships and partnerships at Edmonton’s Food Bank.

That’s why the programming at Edmonton’s Food Bank continues to evolve, to accommodate dietary and cultural food restrictions.

“It’s the community’s feedback to Edmonton’s Food Bank that has allowed us to change our programming over the years. Back in 1982, you would not have seen the variety of food options available,” said Bencz-Knight.

“Edmonton’s Food Bank has tried to meet the needs of our community. So everything from somebody identifying as celiac or diabetic, we want to make sure that they have the available products that they need in those hampers. We’ve also tailored hampers to individuals that require pork-free hampers. We even purchase Halal chickens for those individuals as well.”

Sign at Edmonton’s Food Bank. (Laura Krause/CityNews)

The Islamic Family and Social Services Association (IFSSA) has partnered with Edmonton’s Food Bank, creating Halal food hampers to those in need, serving more than 5,000 people each month.

“Providing people with food that they will eat is very important,” said Omar Yaqub with IFSSA. “You can put food in front of people but if it doesn’t meet their tastes, then there is a huge disconnect. In addition, there are often dietary laws, other restrictions that might impact whether people can feel safe eating the food.”

The food in the hampers meet Islamic dietary criteria and food items are free of alcohol and pork products. They also do their best to ensure the food hampers meet clients’ regular dietary customs, including rice, flour, lentils and oil.

Various food baskets at Edmonton’s Food Bank on April 10, 2023. (Laura Krause/CityNews)

“One of the challenges we often see is people are very uncomfortable or fearful of the food they are receiving, worried it may be containing foods they don’t eat if they are vegetarian. Or if they are Muslim, they may be afraid of eating food that may contain pork,” said Yaqub.

Edmonton’s Food Bank says during difficult times like these, it’s important their door is open to everyone.

“All foods fit for us, everything is appreciated and counts and helps us get it out to the community,” said Bencz-Knight.