Stockpiling and the influence of risk perception
Almost a third of the respondents (31.4%) indicated to stockpile more food compared to the time before the pandemic. Simultaneously, the fear of not getting enough food was increased. Before Covid-19, very few study participants (3%) were anxious to this effect. In contrast, this value increased almost to 18% (sum of the values “often” and “occasionally”) at the time of the survey (Table 4). Concerning the influence of fear on not getting enough food and stockpiling, the results show that the bigger the fear, the more the study participants were stockpiling (\(\chi ^2=55.164;\) df = 2, p < 0.001).
Table 4 Has anyone in your household been anxious about obtaining enough food to meet their requirements before and during Covid-19? Change in the amount of food consumed
A central question of this study was, if people consumed more food during the pandemic. Across the entire sample, 20.5%, i.e. around a fifth of the respondents, stated that “more food” was consumed in their household (sum of the top values “much more” and “a little more”) (Fig. 1).
When the increased consumption was analyzed for the different household segments, a high degree of heterogeneity in the population became obvious (Fig. 2). In households with no children and no income loss, the increase was lower compared to the average. In contrast, there was an increased caloric intake, especially in households with children and/or pandemic-related income losses.
Based on fisher’s exact test for \(2\times 2\) tables (Table 5) it was checked if the mentioned differences between different household segments were significant. This holds for most p-values which supports the finding that income loss and kids in the household are drivers for an increased food consumption during the pandemic.
Table 5 Fisher’s exact test—p-values for groups differences between households segments concerning the increased food consumption Change in consumption frequency of various product categories
During the corona lockdown, there were significant decreases in the frequency of consumption of fruits/vegetables, fish and meat (Fig. 3). In contrast, there were significant increases in the categories of canned goods, ready-made meals, cakes/cookies, sweets and alcohol. Thus, there was a tendency for fresh products to be partly substituted by more processed, and more durable (convenience) products or partially unhealthy foods (sweets, alcohol). In the context of the measured risen overall food consumption, there was not only a substitution but an additional consumption of the latter mentioned products.
For the different household segments (Table 6), again large group differences become apparent. E.g., 13.4% of the respondents declared a higher consumption of alcohol. However, this parameter increased only to 11.5% for households without children and without loss of income. In contrast, an increased alcohol consumption is found more frequently (21.2%) in households with children and with reduced income.
For fruits and vegetables only 10.8% of the households with children and without income loss stated to consume less of these products. Compared to the time period before Covid-19, the consumption even increased during the pandemic. The opposite was true for households with children and a loss of income, (17.7%). In this group, the consumption of fruits and vegetables was on average reduced during lockdown.
Contrarily to fruits and vegetables, only 16.6% of respondents from households with children and with no loss of income reported an increased consumption of ready-made meals. For households with children and a loss of income, a much higher value could be found (28.3%). Similar results are shown for frozen food. In the product category meat, especially in households with children and a loss of income, meat consumption has declined (27.8%). In households with children without loss of income, this value was only 17.8%.
Based on fisher’s exact test for \(2\times 2\) tables (Tables S8–14) it was checked if the mentioned differences between different household segments were significant. The analysis revealed that some but not the majority of the group differences were significant. But, it is to highlight that for two groups we had relatively small sample sizes. It is to expect that more of the analysed group differences are significant when a larger sample is considered.
Table 6 Change in consumption frequency according to product groups and household segments (top scores—“much more” and “a little more” respectively “a little less” and “much less”) Price perception
During the corona pandemic, there were price increases for meat and vegetables (Akter 2020). Agricultural economic research shows that for lower-income households the elasticity of the demand is in general stronger in comparison to other household segments (Thiele and Weiss 2003). That is plausible, because households with a lower income have to calculate more precisely to get along with their financial budget. Accordingly, the demand of higher-income households reacts less elastic. Based on this, it is to highlight that food prices during the corona pandemic were perceived very different across the segments. The majority (63.9%) of households with children and income losses stated to spent more money on food compared to the pre-Covid-19 period. For households with children but no loss of income, this value was only 25.0%.
Changed eating habits in the context of the aspect of sustainability
The study revealed only minor changes in consumer’s behaviour concerning locally or organically produced food. There was no push towards locally or organically produced products as a result of the pandemic (Fig. 4). The changes in the positive as well as in the negative direction almost compensate each other.
In the context of sustainability, however, it can be shown that a relatively large group of 26% of the households threw away less food. In addition, more than a third planned meals and/or their grocery list more in advance. Based on a \(\chi ^2\)-square test, a significant relationship between the changed extent of planning and food waste avoidance could be found. Households, which planned “a lot more” or “more” in advance indicated more often to threw away “a little less” or “much less” food during the pandemic (\(\chi ^2=139{,}77\); df = 16; p < 0.001).
Across household segments, differences in the change of sustainable consumer behaviour could be found. In particular in households with kids, meals and shopping lists are planned more in advance (Table 7). Concerning local food, the highest rise can be found for households with kids but no income loss. Likewise this group indicated compared to all other segment most often (30.0%) to produce less food waste during the pandemic. Interestingly, in households with kids but an income loss the lowest value for the reduction of food waste could be found (22.4%).
Table 7 Change in sustainable household behaviour according to product groups and household segments (top scores—“much more” and “a little more” respectively “a little less” and “much less”)