Strategies for the promotion of healthy, adequate and sustainable food in Brazil in times of Covid-19

Abstract

The current scenario generated by the Covid-19 pandemic enhances the condition of food and nutrition insecurity due to the worsening of poverty, hunger and lack of access to food, as well as the excess consumption of foods considered unhealthy. The effects of the pandemic enhances the need for a new way of arranging the production, distribution and consumption of food, giving new meaning to the relationship between food, eating and the environment. Thus, it is suggested that a reflection be made on the strategies for the appropriate healthy, adequate and sustainable diet in Brazil to face this health emergency. Actions must be focused on the articulation of strategies that foster sovereignty, food and nutrition security and healthier and more sustainable food systems such as the strengthening of family farming; income assurance for the population; access to quality food; changes in the food environment; dissemination of information on healthy and sustainable food in official recommendations for the pandemic and food guides covering the entire food system, as well as food and nutrition education practices.

Availability and access to food in supermarkets before and during the Covid-19 pandemic in a mid-size city

“…Finally, we highlight the importance of promoting shorter food supply chains to reduce the risk of scarcity, foster physical and financial availability and access, grant access to fresh and healthy foods grown locally without agrochemicals and seasonally. That promotes family farming, which plays an important role in employment and income, and is strategic for food production and improving living conditions in rural areas [39,40] The study has a few limitations. First, using secondary data sources to select the stores (the taxpayers' roll), which may lead to imprecise results.…”

The COVID-19 Pandemic and its Implications for Food Consumer Behavior: A Bibliometric Analysis of Institutionally Affiliated Research in Brazil

“…hand washing and avoiding the use of shared objects are among the main practices to prevent infection (Martinelli et al, 2020).…”

Food environments and the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil: analysis of changes observed in 2020

“…The worsening of the COVID-19 pandemic in several Brazilian cities has led to the need of taking harder measures about social distancing, as well as to security determinations focussed on reducing human circulation and the consequent spread of the virus. These measures comprised closing public food procurement sites such as municipal markets and open fairs, as well as restricting physical access to establishments selling food for immediate consumption such as restaurants and snack bars (2,15) . In addition, many traders have changed the selling pattern of their establishments in order to meet community demands and to reduce the impact of the crisis (16) .…”