Food Insecurity, Consumer Habits, & Chronic Disease in the First Months of the COVID-19 Crisis

In August 2020, The Institute for Hunger Research & Solutions at Connecticut Foodshare surveyed 1,000+ people across Connecticut to understand changes in food access and food security one year after the onset of COVID-19. Consistent with findings of other COVID-era studies, our results indicate that food insecurity and nutrition-related diseases were associated with higher variability in diet composition, reduced diet quality, and altered adaptability to market changes. Respondents who were food insecure and those with household members diagnosed with a nutrition related disease reported decreased consumption of healthful foods and increased consumption of foods high in saturated fats, sodium, and sugar. Challenges with accessing food during the pandemic, particularly for those experiencing food insecurity, highlights the negative relationship between hunger and health. This study was a collaboration with the National Food Access and COVID Research Team, a group of researchers around the country dedicated to better understanding food systems during this pandemic.