COVID-19 epidemic lockdown-induced remarkable decrease in dairy products consumption of Iran population: does it really matter? National Food and Nutrition Surveillance

Abstract

Background The pandemic of the newly emerged coronavirus infection and its related disease, Covid-19, has influenced various aspects of human life including dietary habits. This study aimed to examine changes in dairy products consumption during Covid-19 lockdown period in a huge sample of Iranian households. Methods A cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study using a web-based electronic self-administered questionnaire designed to detect any changes in the consumption frequency of dairy products in the Iranian households during Covid-19 lockdown. Results A total of 21,290 households were enrolled. During Covid-19 epidemic lockdown, about 29%, 26% and 7% of the households had decreased their consumption frequency of milk, yogurt and cheese, respectively. The female-headed households were 21% more likely to decrease their consumption of milk, compared with male-headed households (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.05–1.4). The households residing in food insecure provinces were 29%, 20% and 45% more likely to decrease their consumption of milk, yogurt and cheese as compared with those living in the food secure provinces. About 37%, 25.3%, 19.4% of those households who reported a decrease in consumption of dairy products had fully omitted them. Conclusion We found considerable decrement of dairy products consumption, especially milk and yogurt, in a high proportion of the studied households. Inadequate intake and, in some households, omission of dairy products can potentially bring about serious health outcomes with heavier economic burden. Further studies to track these changes over time and to evaluate their health consequences are warranted.

A 30-year trend of dairy consumption and its determinants among income groups in Iranian households

“…Interestingly, our study also revealed that female-headed households tend to consume more cheese and total dairy while have lower milk consumption. This finding is in contrast with other studies that have shown female-headed households have lower dairy consumption ( 58 , 77 ) probably due to their limited resources. However, our study also found a positive relationship between female-headed households and cheese consumption.…”

“…The findings show that although cheese consumption (mainly white cheese) has a slower decreasing trend, its overall trend indicates an increase. Most Iranians consume cheese with bread for breakfast, making cheese consumption a part of their food culture ( 58 ). This could justify the slower decreasing trend, and the study’s findings align with those of other studies ( 58 , 25 ).…”

“…Most Iranians consume cheese with bread for breakfast, making cheese consumption a part of their food culture ( 58 ). This could justify the slower decreasing trend, and the study’s findings align with those of other studies ( 58 , 25 ). In 2019, another drop in dairy consumption was observed, mainly in the 2nd and 3rd tertiles of income, which could be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and high inflation rates of 31.2, 41.2, and 47.1% during 2019–2021.…”

“…In 2019, another drop in dairy consumption was observed, mainly in the 2nd and 3rd tertiles of income, which could be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and high inflation rates of 31.2, 41.2, and 47.1% during 2019–2021. A nationwide cross-sectional survey by Nikooyeh et al found a significant decrease in dairy product consumption, particularly milk, and yogurt, in a high proportion of households during the COVID-19 epidemic lockdown ( 58 ). A similar decreasing trend in dairy consumption due to COVID-19 has also been reported for other countries such as China mainly due to the price increases, income loss, and insufficient savings combination ( 59 ).…”

“…Low-income groups are more sensitive to income and price fluctuations as allocate a larger share of their income to food than higher-income households (55,56). On the other hand, low consumption levels respondents are more responsive to changes in income (57). As household income increases, the possibility of consuming dairy products increases.…”