Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the government in Kuwait implemented public health measures to control the spread of the virus. However, despite the importance of these restrictions, normal activities related to purchasing of groceries, concerns related to food safety, and overall uncertainty may have influenced food behaviors and food consumption. Hence, the study investigates the impact of COVID-19 on food purchasing behaviors, eating behaviors, and the perception of food safety and security among residents in Kuwait. A cross-sectional study was carried out using self-administered questionnaires between 28 July 2020 and 31 August 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kuwait. A total of 841 respondents participated in the study. The study identified several changes in food purchasing behaviors, eating behaviors, food consumption, and consumers perceptions on food safety during the pandemic. The closures, restrictions, and changes in food purchasing evidently influenced individual’s eating behaviors. Largely, participants were found to (i) change their food purchasing behavior (74%); (ii) opt for online food delivery services (42.8%); (iii) purchase long-shelf-life foods (e.g., canned food and dry staples) (76%); (iv) consume more meals at home (76%); and (v) follow public health measures to reduce the spread of the virus and ensure their safety (98%). This study indicates that individuals during times of uncertainty and stress change their food purchasing behaviors, food consumption habits, and follow guidelines and recommendations. These findings may help public health initiatives to focus on raising awareness about the importance of health, wellbeing, and nutrition during times of crises.
Highlights
The novel coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) [1]
A cross-sectional study was conducted between 28 July and 31 August 2020 to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on food purchasing habits, dietary consumption, food safety, and security perception among adults in Kuwait
COVID-19 pandemic pandemic has has affected affected behaviors behaviors related related to tobuying buyingfood, food,meal meal
Summary
The novel coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) [1]. In line with the WHO recommendations, governmental bodies worldwide implemented measures to stop and control the fast spread of the disease. These measures focused primarily on implementing procedures to promote handwashing, social distancing, and use of face masks. In Kuwait, the government implemented measures to reduce the spread of the disease and lessen the burden on the health care system. Despite the importance of imposing these measures to control the spread of the virus in Kuwait, the extent and magnitude of COVID-19 in Kuwait on food purchasing, eating behaviors, and food safety was unknown, as such no previous study was published at the time in Kuwait and neighboring Arab Gulf countries. We provide a literature review, which is followed by a presentation of the results and the discussion and conclusions
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