A Multi-Site Analysis of the Prevalence of Food Insecurity in the United States, before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Background The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly affected food systems including food security. Understanding how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted food security is important to provide support, and identify long-term impacts and needs. Objective The National Food Access and COVID research Team (NFACT) was formed to assess food security over different U.S. study sites throughout the pandemic, using common instruments and measurements. This study present results from 18 study sites across 15 states and nationally over the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods A validated survey instrument was developed and implemented in whole or part through an online survey of adults across the sites throughout the first year of the pandemic, representing 22 separate surveys. Sampling methods for each study site were convenience, representative, or high-risk targeted. Food security was measured using the USDA six-item module. Food security prevalence was analyzed using analysis of variance by sampling method to statistically significant differences. Results Respondents (n = 27,168) indicate higher prevalence of food insecurity (low or very low food security) since the COVID-19 pandemic, as compared to before the pandemic. In nearly all study sites, there is higher prevalence of food insecurity among Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), households with children, and those with job disruptions. The findings demonstrate lingering food insecurity, with high prevalence over time in sites with repeat cross-sectional surveys. There are no statistically significant differences between convenience and representative surveys, but statistically higher prevalence of food insecurity among high-risk compared to convenience surveys. Conclusions This comprehensive study demonstrates higher prevalence of food insecurity in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. These impacts were prevalent for certain demographic groups, and most pronounced for surveys targeting high-risk populations. Results especially document the continued high levels of food insecurity, as well as the variability in estimates due to survey implementation method. Summary Multi-site assessment demonstrates widespread food insecurity during COVID-19, especially on households with children, job loss, and Black, Indigenous, People of Color across multiple survey methods.

Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Food Pantry Use and Barriers in Massachusetts during the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The increases that we find in food insecurity and food pantry use are consistent with other Massachusetts and nationwide surveys conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic [27][28][29]. Conversely, findings from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) suggest that food insecurity in the United States remained stable from 2019 to 2020 [3].…”

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Food and Nutrition Security among Older Adults: A Qualitative Perspective

“…Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 10.5% of U.S. households were food insecure, with 8.7% of elderly households being food insecure [4]. During the pandemic, the overall prevalence of food insecurity increased to 32.1% [5]; however, rates among older adults increased by as much as 75% [6]. According to Feeding Northeast Florida, nearly 237,000 people in northeast Florida experienced food insecurity in 2021 [7].…”

SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity and COVID-19 among 5 years-old Amazonian children and their association with poverty and food insecurity

“…Children exposed to household food insecurity, which affects 54% of our study participants ( Table 1 ), had their COVID-19 risk increased by 76% ( Table 2 ). We note that food insecurity rates have increased worldwide since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic [ 36 , 37 ], most markedly in low- and middle-income countries [ 38 , 39 ]. Compared with 2019, approximately 14 million more people in Latin America and the Caribbean were affected by hunger in 2020 ( https://data.unicef.org/resources/sofi-2021/ ).…”