Article
Changes in food purchase, consumption and handling during COVID-19 pandemic among single person households
Plos One
(2023)
Abstract
Objective
As a new type of consumer subject in the market that was formerly dominated by multiple
person families, single households are driving the change in the buying structure. Food purchase
activities have undergone significant changes since the outbreak of the COVID-19.
The objective of this study was to assess and compare variations in food consumption, purchase
and handling during the COVID-19 pandemic between single person households
(SPH) and multiple person households.
Method
A cross-sectional study conducted among 211 individuals in communities in Harris and Waller
Counties, Texas. Sociodemographic, food purchase, food consumption and food handling
activities during the COVID-19 pandemic were assessed with a validated COVID-19
Nutrition questionnaire.
Results
Non-Hispanic Black participants constituted 42.6%, and 28.4% were Hispanics. Participants
were made up of mostly aged 18–24 years (39.3%), 47.9% single household composition,
30.4% in full time employment, and 29.1% partook in food assistance programs. A large proportion
of them had never used grocery pickup services, online grocery shopping and a
farmers’ market. During the COVID-19 pandemic, majority of the participants used more of
large supermarkets, restaurant/fast food, and online grocery but food consumption seemed
to remain the same for the majority of participants. For beverages, majority of participants
consumed more water, less soda, and no alcohol. There was a significant association
between single person household and higher restaurant/fast foods purchase. Many of the
participants reported weight gain and less physical activity during the pandemic.
Conclusion
Restaurant meal purchases was more prevalent in single-person families. The results from
the study have the potential to contribute to how public policy officials, food service, and
health authorities forecast how different categories of consumers will react in pandemics
and may be used to inform area-specific alleviation strategies to minimize the impact of the
COVID-19 pandemic and future events.
Disciplines
Publication Date
Winter November 29, 2023
Citation Information
Antwi J, Olawuyi Y, Bain S, Samuel K
(2023) Changes in food purchase, consumption
and handling during COVID-19 pandemic among
single person households. PLoS ONE 18(11):
e0294361. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.
pone.0294361