Does COVID-19 Affect the Behavior of Buying Fresh Food? Evidence from Wuhan, China

Food purchase and consumption behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Bangladesh: association between sociodemographic composition

BACKGROUND

Bangladesh suffered a severe COVID-19 wave from June to August 2021, which forced the government to impose emergency nationwide lockdown measures for three months with discontinuities. The sudden lockdown strongly affected the dietary preferences, financial circumstances, and social interactions of citizens.

METHODS

In this comprehensive study, we collected sociodemographic information as well as data on food purchase and consumption behaviors from 1,350 adults in Bangladesh during the weeks of enforced confinement. The association between the sociodemographic factors (viz., gender, age, education status, income, occupation, and household size) and food purchase and consumption behaviors were determined by conducting bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models reporting as odds ratios.

RESULTS

The descriptive result reveals that 49.63% of the participants experienced wage reductions, with many people enduring reductions of up to 75%; 12.22% lost their jobs. Besides, a decline in the frequency of shopping was observed by 35.04%; and 24.52% avoided outdoor shopping during the pandemic period. Additionally, 28.74% of participants purchased less overall, while 19.48% purchased significantly fewer items per trip compared to the pre-pandemic period. The multivariate analysis shows a prominent increase in online grocery shopping (OR: 4.03, 95% CI: 2.38-6.83, p < 0.001) and meal delivery services (OR = 5.19, 95% CI = 3.21-7.17, p < 0.001) among higher educated individuals compared to the individuals having no institutional education. The personnel having formal jobs purchased 2.34 times more from online grocery sites (95% CI = 0.34-4.08, p = 0.003) compared to the unemployed one. In contrast, a notable increase in panic buying and stockpiling was observed, driven by scarcity and escalating prices of essential food items. The frequency of meals with families, active engagement in meal preparation, and the exploration of novel recipes also increased notably.

CONCLUSIONS

The consumption of takeaway food and inter-meal snacks increased significantly with the education level of individuals. These findings highlighted that a prolonged pandemic could magnify economic vulnerability in Bangladesh.

Use of online food retail platforms throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and associated diet-related chronic disease risk factors: A systematic review of emerging evidence

Food accessibility was considerably impacted by restrictions during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, leading to growth in the online food retail sector, which offered contact-free delivery. This systematic review aimed to assess the change in use of online food retail platforms during COVID-19. The secondary aim was to identify diet-related chronic disease risk factors including dietary intake, eating behaviors, and/or weight status associated with the use of online food retail platforms during the pandemic. The review was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (CRD42022320498) and adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Nine electronic databases were searched between January 2020 and October 2023. Studies that reported the frequency or change in use of online groceries, meal delivery applications, and/or meal-kit delivery services before and during the pandemic were included. A total of 53 studies were identified, including 46 cross-sectional studies, 4 qualitative studies, 2 longitudinal cohort studies, and 1 mixed-methods study. Overall, 96% (43/45) of outcomes showed an increase in the use of online groceries during COVID-19, while 55% (22/40) of outcomes showed a decrease in meal delivery applications. Eight of nine outcomes associated the use of online food retail with weight gain and emotional eating. Further research is needed to investigate the links between online food retail and obesity.

Using fresh vegetable waste from Chinese traditional wet markets as animal feed: Material feasibility and utilization potential

To develop new animal feed sources and establish a sustainable food upcycling system, the material feasibility and feeding potential of fresh vegetable waste (FVW) were clarified in this study. First, the FVW output of wet markets in Hangzhou, China was tracked and predicted. The results showed that the retail waste ratio of FVW in wet markets reached 9.3 %, predicting that China's FVW will reach 9034 kt in 2030. Second, the study revealed that the nutritive value of FVW was comparable to that of traditional alfalfa feed, suitable for use as animal feed. However, we found a high probability of microbial contamination. Therefore, FVW should have stricter classification and collection methods. Under this premise, the feeding utilization potential of FVW in wet markets is large. In 2030, the crude protein content may replace 2737 kt of alfalfa, saving 7.7 E + 08 m3 of water and 75,018 ha of land.

The impact of COVID-19 quarantine on lifestyle indicators in the United Arab Emirates

Introduction

COVID-19 is a virus that has spread rapidly and brought economic and social crises all around the world. The current study aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 quarantine on dietary habits, physical activity, food purchasing, smoking, and sleeping patterns in the United Arab Emirates.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire between November 1st, 2020 and the end of January 2021. Citizens and residents of the UAE aged ≥ 18 years old were asked to complete an anonymous electronic questionnaire created via Google Forms and distributed on various platforms, such as WhatsApp, Twitter, and email. A total of 1682 subjects participated in the study.

Results

The results included that during the COVID-19 lockdown, more participants (44.4%) reported an increase in weight. This gain seems to be linked to increased food consumption [(Adjusted Odd Ratio) AOR = 1.68, 95% (Confidence Interval) CI = 1.12, 2.54, p = 0.022], decreased physical activity (AOR = 2.25, 95% CI = 1.58, 3.21, p < 0.001), and increased smoking (AOR = 1.90, 95% CI = 1.04, 3.50, p = 0.038). The groups that were most likely to gain weight included those who consumed more cereals (AOR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.08, 2.57, p = 0.011), had an increased desire for sweets (AOR = 2.19, 95% CI = 1.50, 3.19, p < 0.001), and an increased desire for food (hunger) (AOR = 2.19, 95% CI = 1.53, 3.14, p < 0.001). In contrast, those who exercised more were more likely to lose weight (AOR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.44, 0.86, p < 0.001) as well as those who slept over 9 h a day (AOR = 1.90, 95% CI = 0.45, 0.88, p = 0.006).

Discussion

Overall, it is essential to promote healthy habits and methods of healthy diet maintenance during stressful and unusual times when people might find it difficult to put effort into their health.

How Has the COVID-19 Pandemic Changed Urban Consumers' Ways of Buying Agricultural Products? Evidence from Shanghai, China

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on people's consumption behavior and habits. This paper takes Shanghai, China as a case study and uses a questionnaire survey of urban residents in all districts in Shanghai from April to May in 2022. Herein, we empirically analyze the factors affecting shopping modes for agricultural products, describe how things have changed compared to before the outbreak of the pandemic, and explore the underlying mechanism. This paper can provide a policy reference for how to ensure the safety of people's food supply in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results show that urban residents pay more attention to the basic attributes of agricultural products such as the quantity guarantee and health safety, and will adjust their consumption modes for agricultural products according to the needs of families and management. Compared with shopping malls and supermarkets, the quantity and quality assurance of community groups and e-commerce platforms can better meet the consumption situation of agricultural products during the pandemic period. The moderating effect of consumer commodity preference in the positive influence of safety evaluation on the transformation of shopping mode is significant. In general, online e-commerce platforms and community group buying have played a significant role in ensuring the acquisition of supplies needed by people during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it remains to be determined whether the changes in the shopping modes for agricultural products of urban consumers brought by the current COVID-19 pandemic are long term or solidified.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Consumer Behavior-Evidence From China's Stock Market

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically reshaped consumers' grocery shopping behavior. Meanwhile, change in consumer shopping behavior might further exert a considerable and far-reaching impact on the food retail industry. Although the existing literature provides investigation on the impact of the pandemic on the retail industry, very few studies discuss the impact of changes in consumer shopping behavior on the stock market performance of the retail industry. This paper investigates selected food retailers listed in China's stock market. To overcome the problems of the Chow test, the Quandt-Andrews test was used to identify the dates of breakpoints of structural change in the stock price performance of those selected companies. The results suggest that there has indeed been an industry-wide structural change in the stock market performance during the pandemic. The study found that the dates of breakpoints for the selected companies were concentrated in the first half of 2020, when China was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic the most. Our survey shows that under strict epidemic prevention and control measures, consumers have gradually adapted to the new normal of epidemic prevention to a certain extent, established safety awareness, and changed their consumption behavior. Our study on stock price data implies that Chinese consumers experienced a shift from physical store offline purchases to online purchasing model.

How do customers change their purchasing behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic?

This study focuses on examining how customers' shopping behaviors have changed during the pandemic and contributing variables. Three primary shopping modes include online purchases, curbside pickup, and in-store shopping. The dependent variables are the changes in customers' spending in those three modes during the pandemic. The theory of fear appeal was used as the theoretical foundation for selecting independent variables. Based on this theory, two groups of independent variables were identified, fears for health and fears for financial conditions due to COVID-19. Additionally, demographic variables were also included in the analysis. The data from Census Bureau's Household Pulse Survey Phase 3.1 collected from June 23 to July 5, 2021, was used with 24,998 useable cases. Logistic regression was used to analyze the data to test the effects of independent variables on customers' shopping behavior changes in the three modes. The results show that both fears for health and fears for financial conditions have effects on the shopping behavioral changes. Due to those fears, residents change their shopping behaviors by considering the shopping modes that allow them to deal with or avoid the risks. Additionally, demographic variables, including age, gender, race, income, and marriage status, also have significant impacts on their shopping decisions.

Food Acquisition during the COVID-19 Lockdown and Its Associations with the Physical-Digital Integrated Community Food Environment: A Case Study of Nanjing, China

The COVID-19 pandemic and measures such as lockdowns affect food access, dietary choices, and food security. We conducted an online survey among 517 respondents during early 2020 in Nanjing, China to explore respondents' food acquisition behaviors before and during the pandemic and associations with the community food environment. Using geographic analysis and binary logistic models, we revealed that despite inconvenience regarding food acquisition, no food security issues occurred during lockdown in Nanjing. The pandemic changed the access and frequency of obtaining food; meanwhile, pre-pandemic habits had a strong impact on food acquisition behavior. Online and in-store food acquisition showed a substitution relationship, with online food access playing a crucial role in food acquisition. Physical and digit food outlets are highly integrated in Chinese urban communities, and both objectively measured and perceived accessibility of these food outlets had a significant association with the food acquisition methods and transportation mode chosen by people during this public health crisis.

Investigating factors influencing takeout shopping demand under COVID-19: Generalized additive mixed models

The COVID-19 pandemic severely hampered the freedom of shopping travel while increasing individuals' interest in takeout. Although many studies have examined takeout shopping, the available literature provides insufficient evidence on the factors influencing takeout shopping demand under the COVID-19. In this study, generalized additive mixed models were developed based on sampling data of takeout orders in Nanjing before, during, and post the pandemic to measure the associations between takeout shopping demand and neighborhood characteristics at the business circle scale. The results show that population density, house prices, road density, and catering all have a significant impact on takeout shopping demand, while the roles of land use (residential and company indexes) before and post the pandemic are opposite. Besides, the factors influencing the recovery of the demand before and after the pandemic were analyzed. These findings provide important insights into the development of the takeout industry in the post-pandemic era.

Food Intake and Diet Quality of Pregnant Women in China During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A National Cross-Sectional Study

Background:

Between January and April 2020, China implemented differentiated prevention and control strategies across the country, based on the severity of the COVID-19 epidemic/pandemic in different regions. These strategies included lockdowns, social distancing, and the closure of public places. These measures may have affected dietary intake to varying degrees. This study aimed to assess variations in food intake and diet quality among pregnant women according to regional severity and related control measures during the most severe period of COVID-19 restrictions in 2020.

Methods

A total of 3,678 pregnant women from 19 provinces/municipalities in mainland China were analyzed in this nationwide, multi-center study. Food intake data were obtained and assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Diet quality was quantified using the Diet Balance Index for Pregnancy (DBI-P), which included high bound score (HBS, excessive dietary intake), low bound score (LBS, insufficient dietary intake), and diet quality distance (DQD, dietary imbalance). Linear trend tests and multivariable regression analyses were performed to examine the association between food intake, DBI-P and the severity of pandemic.

Results

The median daily intake of vegetables, fruit, livestock/poultry meat, dairy, and nuts decreased (p < 0.05) according to low, moderate, and high severity of the pandemic, while no significant differences in cereals/potatoes, eggs, and fish/shrimp intake. The median daily intake of cereals/potatoes exceeded the recommended ranges, and the daily intake of eggs and fish/shrimp was below recommended ranges regardless of the pandemic severity (p < 0.05). Regarding diet quality, HBS decreased (lower excessive consumption) (p = 0.047) and LBS increased (greater insufficient consumption) (p = 0.046) with increased severity of the pandemic. On multivariable analyses, moderate and high pandemic severity were related to lower HBS risk (OR = 0.687, OR = 0.537) and higher LBS risk (β = 1.517, β = 3.020) when compared to low pandemic severity.

Conclusions

Under more severe COVID-19 pandemic conditions, pregnant women consumed less quality food, characterized by reduced consumption of vegetables, fruit, livestock/poultry meat, dairy and nuts, while the quality of the foods that pregnant women consumed in excess tended to improve, but the overconsumption of cereals/potatoes was a problem.

Food Traceability as an Element of Sustainable Consumption-Pandemic-Driven Changes in Consumer Attitudes

A conscious approach to the issue of food traceability on the part of consumers is essential for making rational food purchases, which in turn contributes to sustainable consumption and globally, is an element of sustainable development. The study aims to assess the changes in consumers' buying behaviors in the context of food traceability before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the impact of sociodemographic factors on those changes. Therefore, an online survey was conducted on a sample of 1000 respondents who were Polish food consumers. The study covered aspects related to the traceability of food by consumers before and during the pandemic. The results allowed for positive verification of the H1: Polish consumers attitudes related to food buying process changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results didn't allow for fully positive verification of the H2: Sociodemographic factors significantly influence Polish consumers attitudes to the food shopping during COVID-19 period compared to pre-pandemic period. The significant influence was supported in almost all (in 6 out of 8) analyzed aspects in case of age, education, and place of residence. However, in case of gender it was confirmed only in terms of two out of eight aspects: choosing product of national origin and using the online form of ordering purchases.

Sustainability in the Case of Small Vegetable Farmers: A Matrix Approach

Considering that sustainability is a relative concept, but also that this limitation could be avoided through continuous adaptation of the evaluation tools by taking into account the directions of change (such as time, space, application domain), the goal of the present study is to elaborate a matrix for measuring the level of sustainability for small vegetable farms. Thus, looking at what sustainability could represent under such circumstances, we divided its characteristics into four main dimensions (economic, social, environmental, cultural), while adding the private dimension. Inclusion of the private dimension may provide potential added value to this study, and thus enrich the general perspective of producers’ capacity to meet the sustainability goals in their entrepreneurial activity. To quantify these five dimensions of the sustainability matrix, a questionnaire was built up and used as support for face-to-face interviews conducted at the level of the North-East Development Region of Romania. Our results showed associations between diverse components of the dimensions considered, revealing their synergy in farm activity, along with the occurrence of some differences in the levels of sustainability dimensions and sub-dimensions, which differ as a function of the specific types of vegetable production (conventional, ecologic, natural, mixed).