Abstract
Bosnia and Herzegovina has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by implementing quarantine and other social distancing measures. These measures, however, have mental, social, and economic consequences on diet and food behaviors. The Bosnian case is particularly pertinent since the country has one of the highest global mortality rates relative to its population. In addition, its health system is fragmented and under-resourced. Consequently, in this study, we analyze the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Bosnians’ behaviors relating to food. It is based on an online survey performed during October–November 2020 with 3133 adult respondents. The statistical analysis encompassed descriptive statistics (means, percentages, and frequencies), as well as cluster analysis. The results reveal that the pandemic transformed consumers’ shopping behaviors and food sourcing, reducing shopping frequency and increasing food bought on each trip. Furthermore, there was an increase in the consumption of local food items due to food safety concerns. Additionally, the pandemic improved the awareness of Bosnians towards food with a decrease in food waste. Regarding diets, Bosnians tried to have healthier diets during the pandemic. Therefore, COVID-19 might have opened a ‘window of opportunity’ to promote the shift towards more sustainable food consumption and lifestyles.
Highlights
The survey findings show that the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted diet and food shopping, preparation, and use/consumption in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The findings reveal that 70.2% of respondents are women, 78% live in urban areas or cities, 45% live with parents, 49.3% are in paid work, and 60.4% receive the same income as any other Bosnian household
In 2019, with 51% of the population living in rural areas, Bosnia and Herzegovina remain rural [27]
Summary
On 5 March 2020, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH) announced its first case of COVID-19, which was the same day a state of emergency was implemented. On 21 March 2020, the country recorded its first COVID-19 fatality [1]. As of 18 June 2021, confirmed cases reached 204,791 with 179,858 recoveries and 9626 total deaths [2]. The Bosnian case is especially pertinent since it has one of the highest global mortality rates relative to its population. With a small population of 3.5 million people and an average of
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
