Hosler AS, Chen J, Arroyo MT, Neff RA, Bozlak CT, Romeiko XX, Feingold BJ. Fruit and Vegetable Consumption, Food Acquisition Behavior, and Food Insecurity Before and After the COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout.
JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT AND PRACTICE 2024;
30:550-557. [PMID:
38870372 DOI:
10.1097/phh.0000000000001946]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
To assess changes in food acquisition behavior, food insecurity, and dietary behavior and identify factors associated with fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption during the transitional period (before and after the initial vaccine rollout for all adults) of the COVID-19 pandemic.
DESIGN
Successive independent samples design. Online surveys were conducted from October 2020 to February 2021 (time 1, before the vaccine rollout) and from October 2021 to December 2021 (time 2, after the vaccine rollout). Descriptive analysis examined changes in food sources, food security, and daily FV consumption in cup equivalents (CEs) from time 1 to time 2. A multivariable logistic regression analysis examined factors associated with FV consumption.
SETTING
The Capital Region of New York State.
PARTICIPANTS
1553 adults 18 years of age and older.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE
Meeting the 2020-2025 MyPlate daily FV consumption recommendations.
RESULTS
There were statistically significant (P < .05) increases in the use of supermarkets, eat-in restaurants, farmers' markets, and convenience stores from time 1 to time 2. Food insecurity (40.1% vs 39.4%) and FV consumption (2.6 CE vs 2.4 CE) slightly declined but not significantly. Home food procurement such as gardening and foraging (OR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.08-2.37) and shopping at food co-op/health food stores (OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.07-2.49) were significantly associated with the FV outcome, and these relationships were not modified by food security status.
CONCLUSIONS
The present study highlights the importance of food sources in understanding adult dietary behavior during the transitional period of the pandemic. Continuing efforts to monitor access to food sources, food insecurity, and dietary behavior are warranted as various COVID-related emergency food assistance measures have expired.
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