Exploring the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Eating and Purchasing Behaviours of People Living in England

Abstract

Consumers’ eating habits have changed significantly due to the anxiety and boredom from the reported cases and deaths of COVID-19, the change in work patterns, controlled food shopping, and the inability to meet loved ones during the lockdown. The magnitude of these changes in the eating behaviours and purchasing habits of consumers varies across different groups of people. This study provides empirical evidence of the effects of COVID-19 on the eating and purchasing behaviours of people living in England, which was assessed based on sociodemographic variables. A total of 911 participants were recruited by a market research company, while only 792 useable responses were included in this study. The participants, aged between 18 and 91 years, completed an online questionnaire, and the data were analysed using ordinal regression. Data were collected between October and December 2020. Male participants constituted 34.60%, females 63.89%, and others (other gender and those who prefer not to declare their gender) were 0.63%. The majority of participants’ ages fell into the ranges of 23–38 and 39–54. Participants aged 23 to 38 years had the greatest effect of COVID-19 on their purchasing decision of healthier foods, while participants in the age groups 55–73 and 74–91 were least affected. The amount of foods purchased during the pandemic decreased with increasing age. The amount of foods purchased by students, people in employment, and people from minority ethnic groups were greatly affected by the pandemic. All participants who stated that taking food supplements is not important during the pandemic were from the White ethnic group. The effects of the pandemic on purchasing healthier foods were greater in younger generations and participants in full- or part-time employment than participants who were retired and who were aged above 55. The participants with higher educational qualifications and those from minority ethnic groups were also more affected by the pandemic. We suggest further studies to monitor any changes in the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on the eating and purchasing behaviours of consumers.

Preparing for the Worst? Household Food Stockpiling during the Second Wave of COVID-19 in Serbia

“…For instance, larger households, especially families with children, tend to stockpile more food than smaller ones. Indeed, the consequences of COVID-19 on the economy, health, well-being, and nutrition varied not only from a household to another but also among individuals [79]. Overall, COVID-19 s effect on consumer behavior has been shaped by many factors, including sociodemographic and household preferences and attitudes [80].…”

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Diet Behaviour Among UK Adults: A Longitudinal Analysis of the HEBECO Study

“…However, studies to date assessing the influence of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions on dietary behaviours in UK adults have largely been cross-sectional and undertaken during the initial months of lockdown ( 7 , 14 , 19 ). Some cross-sectional analyses show dietary changes during August–October 2020 compared to the pre-pandemic period ( 1 , 30 , 31 ), and changes in consumer habits during November–December 2020 ( 10 ). Herle et al identified multiple eating trajectories of UK adults during the initial months of the pandemic, including individuals with an initial increase in eating at the start of the pandemic, followed by a gradual return to pre-pandemic food intake by May 2020 ( 21 ).…”

Eating Habits during the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Level of Antibodies IgG and FRAP—Experiences of Polish School Staff: A Pilot Study

“…Studies by Silva et al (2021) and Salman et al (2021) also noted an increase in the consumption of vegetables and fruits during the pandemic [49,50]. It is worth noting that the elderly during the pandemic were characterized by a greater decrease in healthy food consumption than the younger generations [51]. Increased consumption of carbohydrate sources has also been noted in other studies [19,20,45].…”