Ottawa—A poll commissioned by Food & Consumer Products of Canada (FCPC) has found almost 90 per cent of Canadians are worried about the rising cost of food and that concern could become an election issue.Conducted by Abacus Data, the poll also found 92 per cent of Canadians say it's critically important to have a strong and sustainable food sector or food prices will keep rising.Abacus CEO David Coletto said affordability anxiety could be defining issue in the October federal election.  “Across every province, demographic group, and political tribe - Canadians are worried about keeping up with the cost of living.  Food prices are an important part of that equation, and voters are looking to politicians for concrete solutions.” The cost of feeding a family of four is expected to rise by up to $400 this year.FCPC CEO Michael Graydon said the poll “sends a crystal clear message to politicians. Canadians expect the government to make affordable food a priority, and they will vote with rising grocery bills in mind.“Food is fundamental to Canada's future,” he said. “Canadians are counting on government to help strengthen the food industry, so we can keep feeding Canadian families, buying Canadian crops, and creating Canadian jobs.”FCPC has warned that grocery store consolidation and a challenging government regulatory environment decreases choice, raises food prices, and inhibit innovation, he said. “Canada's food industry lost 12 jobs per day, every day, from 2013 to 2018.”The polls offer plenty of good reasons for politicians to support food industry workers and the millions of Canadian families who rely on affordable, safe groceries every day, he said. The food industry employs about 300,000 workers, which is more than any other manufacturing sector, in 6,500 communities across the country, and buys 40 per cent of the food Canadian farmers grow.The poll was released the day after Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau announced the National Food Policy and cited a growing food affordability problem faces many Canadians as one of the government's concerns.The polls also found strong support for Canadian farmers and food processors and that 97 per cent agreed that food prices could or would increase if the government doesn't prioritize support for the agrifood sector. The poll of 2,500 people also found that 91 per cent believed fewer Canadian grown products and ingredients would be used in food products without government support for the sector.About 90 per cent of the respondents said it was important for the parties in the election “to detail in their platforms how they will work with industry to make it strong going forward.”Abacus President David Coletto said the poll results show, “There's no doubt that Canadians are becoming increasingly concerned about the rising cost of living. Food prices are an important part of that equation and our research finds broad concern about rising food costs.“At the same time, Canadians also want to see a strong and sustainable domestic food and beverage sector that buys and uses ingredients from Canadian farmers,” he said. “Canada's largest manufacturing sector is facing headwinds that are putting pressure on margins and making it difficult to grow.“Canadians recognize that there will be consequences if the government doesn't support the sector and prioritize its challenges,” he said. Rising food prices, lost manufacturing jobs, and less value-added production “are seen as likely to happen if government and industry don't work together to overcome the challenging business environment.”Alex Binkley is a freelance journalist and writes for domestic and international publications about agriculture, food and transportation issues. He's also the author of two science fiction novels with more in the works.