The Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Food Supply in the Emergency Food System: A Case Study at 2 Food Pantries

BACKGROUND

The onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic increased demand for emergency food assistance and has caused operational shifts in the emergency food system.

OBJECTIVE

This research explored how the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the food supply of 2 food pantries.

METHODS

A case study approach was applied to collect data during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Food supply data were collected weekly at 2 food pantries in southwest Montana for 17 wk in 2020. Surveys and interviews were conducted with food pantry clients and staff, respectively. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were applied to analyze quantitative data. Food supply data were analyzed using the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2015, NOVA system, and Unprocessed Pantry Project (UP3) Framework. Thematic analysis was applied to qualitative data.

RESULTS

The food boxes collected between the 2 food pantries (n = 43) had a mean (± SD) total HEI-2015 score of 76.41 ± 7.37 out of a possible score of 100. According to both the NOVA and the UP3 Framework, 23.4% of the total food distributed was ultra-processed food. Of the food distributed, 50.0% and 48.3% was fresh, unprocessed food according to NOVA and UP3 Frameworks, respectively. From staff interviews, 3 themes arose that describe the food pantry operations that experienced change during the COVID-19 pandemic, including food procurement, distribution preparation, and food distribution. Nine supporting subthemes describing the causes and consequences of the operational themes were identified. Staff perceived that the nutrient quality of the food boxes increased from food distributed previously to the COVID-19 pandemic, whereas over one-third (39.4%) of food pantry clients who responded to surveys preferred the food box model.

CONCLUSIONS

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused enormous operational challenges within food pantries. Food pantries overcame these challenges by swiftly and effectively altering operations so as to continue to distribute nutritious food boxes to pantry clients.

Strategizing Dinner: How American Pantry Users Think about Feeding Their Families with Limited Resources

The financial crisis associated with the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated food insecurity in the United States. The emergency provides an opportunity to re-think the American nutrition-assistance system. In this paper, we describe findings from a community-based project conducted in urban Alaska before the pandemic in collaboration with a local food pantry. We conducted semi-structured interviews with nineteen food recipients, half of them twice, about how they procure food and prepare their meals in the context of juggling other expenses and demands on their time. What participants in our study do fits mainstream American patterns. Our study adds to the knowledge base by focusing on how families think strategically about their situations in context. In addition to cost, participants take nutrition and flavor into account. Most importantly, they do not think about assistance programs in isolation but holistically.

Beyond Groceries: An Analysis of Referral Needs to Address Underlying Causes of Child Hunger among Households Accessing Food Pantries

Very low food security among children (VLFS-C), often referred to as child hunger, can profoundly hinder child development, family well-being, and community health. Food pantries are important community resources that routinely serve at-risk families. This study investigated the influence of various candidate risk factors for VLFS-C within a food pantry population to inform the development of the "Pantry Assessment Tool against Child Hunger (PATCH)." We collected standardized surveys among a representative sample of households with children accessing food pantry services in Oklahoma (n = 188). Weighted analyses revealed a large majority of households experienced child-level food insecurity (70.6%), with nearly half reporting low food security and nearly one-quarter reporting VLFS-C. We then used logistic regression to identify factors associated with VLFS-C, followed by chi-square automatic interaction detection (CHAID) to assess if, and in what progression, significant risk factors predicted VLFS-C. In unadjusted models, annual household income <$15,000, non-urban residence, lack of health insurance, unstable housing, heavier food pantry reliance, fair or poor adult health, adult anxiety, and adult smoking to reduce hunger pangs were all positively associated with VLFS-C. Receipt of Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and higher social support were protective against VLFS-C. However, in adjusted models, only receipt of WIC remained significant. CHAID analysis revealed that access to insurance best differentiated groups with and without VLFS-C. Informed by these analyses, the PATCH tool may be useful for the development of screening programs to identify and address potential root causes of VLFS-C in pantry settings.

Navigating Infodemics, Unlocking Social Capital and Maintaining Food Security during the COVID-19 First Wave in the UK: Older Adults' Experiences

In March 2020, a national UK lockdown was implemented in response to rapidly rising COVID-19 infections. Those experiencing the most severe public health restrictions were ‘shielding’ groups as well as those over 70 years of age. Older age adults, many of whom were active, independent, and socially connected were immediately instructed to stay at home, to limit all external social contact and consider contingency for maintaining personal food security and social contact. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of older adults during the first UK lockdown (March–June 2020), specifically how our sample reacted to public health messaging, staying food secure and drawing on available social capital within their community. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with eight participants. In addition, twenty-five participants completed a qualitative ‘open-ended’ survey. The data was collated and analysed, adopting a Thematic Analysis informed approach. Three themes were identified: (1) Too Much Information, (2) The Importance of Neighbours and Connections and (3) Not Wishing to be a Burden. These findings offer a rich insight into how early lockdown measures, never witnessed since World War 2, exposed existing pre-pandemic inequalities and concerns relating to loneliness, isolation and wellbeing. The findings are of relevance to researchers, older adult advocate groups and policy makers to inform post COVID-recovery within communities to ensure healthy ageing.

Food security and alternative food acquisition among US low-income households: results from the National Food Acquisition and Purchasing Survey (FoodAPS)

OBJECTIVE

To determine the characteristics of US low-income households that use alternative food acquisition strategies and to examine the association between food security and alternative food acquisition.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional analysis. The ten-item Adult Food Security Survey Module was used to determine food security status. Self-reported data were used to determine food acquisition from community food sources, social networks and household food production.

SETTING

The National Food Acquisition and Purchasing Survey (FoodAPS), 2012.

PARTICIPANTS

The sample consisted of 2534 low-income households (≤185 % of the federal poverty line) in the USA.

RESULTS

Households using alternative food acquisition strategies were more likely to have a primary respondent who was non-Hispanic White, born in the USA, and female, and more likely to live in a rural area, have higher income and own a home than households not using alternative acquisition strategies. Very low food security was positively associated with the use of community food sources (aOR = 2·26 (95 % CI 1·15, 4·46)). There was no association between food security and food acquisition from social networks or household food production.

CONCLUSIONS

Use of alternative food acquisition strategies varied by specific demographic characteristics among low-income households, suggesting opportunities for outreach and promotion of alternative acquisition strategies in specific subpopulations in the USA. Future research should examine whether quantity and quality of food received from these sources are associated with food security.

Development and Testing of the Healthy Food Pantry Assessment Tool

OBJECTIVE

To develop and test an observational survey that quantifies food pantry environments (FPE).

DESIGN

Best practices in FPE were identified through key informant interviews. The tool was pilot-tested, including a content review, and then field-tested for reliability.

SETTING

Key informant phone interviews (n = 41); pilot and field test visits occurred at 45 pantries from multiple states.

SUBJECTS

Food bank/pantry staff and nutrition educators were recruited for interviews through purposive and snowball sampling. Pilot and field test survey users (n = 65) were food pantry representatives and matched community partners who both rated the FPE using the tool.

VARIABLES MEASURED

Pearson correlation was used to determine test-retest and interrater reliability.

ANALYSIS

Qualitative data were coded for healthy FPE strategies. Quantitative data were calculated using descriptive statistics (significant at P < .05).

RESULTS

Qualitative data were coded for observable FPE characteristics. Reliability scores were substantial to nearly perfect for 48 of 61 survey items (79%) for test-retest and 49 of 61 (80%) for interrater reliability (Pearson r = .6-1.0).

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

The Healthy Food Pantry Assessment Tool is research-tested and can be used to evaluate and quantify the healthfulness of FPE.