Changes in Food Purchasing Practices of French Households During the First COVID-19 Lockdown and Associated Individual and Environmental Factors.

Background

To limit the spread of COVID-19, a strict lockdown was imposed in France between March and May 2020. Mobility limitations and closure of non-essential public places (restaurants, open-air markets, etc.) affected peoples' food environment (FE) and thus their food purchasing practices (FPPs). This study aimed to explore changes in FPPs of French households during lockdown and associations with individual and environmental factors.

Methods

In April of 2020 households from the Mont'Panier cross-sectional study (

Results

Five clusters were identified. Cluster "Supermarket" (38% of the total sample), in which households reduced frequency of trips, but increased quantity bought in supermarkets during lockdown, was associated with lower incomes and the perception of increased food prices. Cluster "E-supermarket" (12%), in which households increased online food shopping with pickup at supermarket, was associated with higher incomes. Cluster "Diversified" (22%), made up of households who reduced frequency of trips to diverse food outlet types, was associated with the perception of increased food prices. Cluster "Organic Food Store" (20%), in which households did not change frequency of trips, nor quantity purchased in organic food stores, was associated with being older (35-50 y vs. <35 y). Finally, cluster "Producer" (8%), which includes households who regularly purchased food from producers, but mostly reduced these purchases during lockdown, was associated with the presence of an organic food store within a 1-km walking distance around home.

Conclusion

This study highlighted diverse changes in FPPs during lockdown and overall more significant associations with perceived than with objective FE indicators.

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Copyright © 2022 Recchia, Rollet, Perignon, Bricas, Vonthron, Perrin and Méjean.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.