COVID-19 virus outbreak lockdown: What impacts on household food wastage?

Abstract

The 2019-2020 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a public health issue. Lockdown is among options suggested to reduce spread of the virus. This study aimed to determining the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on Tunisian consumer awareness, attitudes and behaviors related to food wastage. An online survey was conducted during the first 2 weeks of COVID-19 lockdown. The survey collected information on demographic data, awareness and attitudes toward food waste, food purchase behavior and household food expenditure estimation; extent of household food waste; willingness and information needs to reduce food waste. This study included 284 respondents. About 89% of respondents claimed to be aware of food waste, and the COVID-19 lockdown would impact for 93% of respondents, their waste levels, and for 80%, their grocery shopping habits. Interestingly, the COVID-19 lockdown improved food shopping performances and pushed toward a positive behavioral change regarding food wastage: 85% respondents declared nothing of what they bought would be discarded, and most of the respondents have set up a strategy of saving, storing and eating leftovers. The most cited reasons given for discarding food were overcooking, inappropriate storage and overbuying. Consumers' changes in food waste prevention might be probably driven more by the socioeconomical context of the COVID-19 lockdown (i.e. food availability, restricted movements, loss of income), than by a pro-environmental concern. Finally, our study pointed out the consumers' needs of information for taking further action. In conclusion, our study can constitute a basis to further promote household food waste prevention behavior, outlasting the COVID-19 crisis.

Analysis of the scientific production of the effect of COVID-19 on the environment: A bibliometric study

“…Environmental researchers have likewise focused on the lockdown impact on changes of energy consumption, waste management and daily habits among citizens. Jribi et al (2020) , for example, assessed the effect of the lockdown on Tunisian consumer awareness, attitudes and behaviors related to food wastage. Their findings indicate that the COVID-19 lockdown improved food shopping performance and pushed toward a positive behavioral change with regard to food wastage: 85% of the respondents declared that none of their purchases were discarded.…”

Nutrition Behaviors in Polish Adults before and during COVID-19 Lockdown

“…Moreover, we did not observe any increase in the consumption of health-promoting products recommended by the Food and Nutrition Institute (currently a part of the National Institute of Public Health, National Institute of Hygiene) such as vegetables and fruit or pickled food, low-fat dairy products [ 33 ]. Consumer behavior evaluated in a Tunisian study showed that 89% of the respondents declared to be aware of food waste, and the COVID-19 lockdown would impact 93% of them; their waste levels; and, for 80%, their grocery shopping habits [ 34 ]. Significant reductions in the frequency of the consumption of fast-food products ( p = 0.0001) and instant soups or ready-made jars ( p = 0.0247) were among the positive changes observed due to lockdown.…”

Environmental effects of COVID-19 pandemic and potential strategies of sustainability

“…Water pollution are also reduced in the beach areas of Bangladesh, Malaysia, Thailand, Maldives, and Indonesia (Kundu, 2020;Rahman, 2020). Jribi et al (2020) reported that, due to the COVID-19 lockdown, the amount of food waste is reduced in Tunisia, which ultimately reduces soil and water pollution. However, the amount of industrial water consumption is also reduced, especially from the textile sector around the glove (Cooper, 2020).…”