Exploring the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Food Choice Motives: A Systematic Review

Abstract

The economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has effected the global economy, with the main changes expected to affect human life in the future, including food consumption. However, could this pandemic be assumed as a threshold for the suspension of the usual rules behind food choices? This review highlights the changes in food choice motivations before, during, and after the pandemic that have been reported in the literature to date to answer the research question on the changes in food choice motives caused by the pandemic to consumers worldwide. The review comes up with ten key food motives important for consumers, namely health, convenience, sensory appeal, nutritional quality, moral concerns, weight control, mood and anxiety, familiarity, price, and shopping frequency behavior; these motives continue to be significant in the post-pandemic era. Our findings indicate that it is too premature to give definite answers as to what food choice motives in the post-COVID-19 era will be like. Consumers’ perceptions and attitudes toward food in the new era are contradictory, depending on the country of the study, the average age, and the sex of the study group. These controversial results illustrate that, for food consumption, motives depend on the population being searched, with changes identified occurring in two directions. The definite answers will be given in three to five years when the new conditions will be clear and a number of studies will have been published. Even though it is too early to fully understand the definite food choice motive changes, defining a “new” index of consumer satisfaction is necessary since it can alter the food sale strategies of retail managers, food companies, and the other parties involved in the agri-food chain.

Habits, Health and Environment in the Purchase of Bakery Products: Consumption Preferences and Sustainable Inclinations before and during COVID-19

“…The processes of social transformation underway in recent decades have radically changed the world of food and the agri-food sector [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. The COVID-19 crisis has changed people’s daily routines: isolation, remote working, increased sedentary lifestyle and the frequency of meals and snacks, mood changes, anxiety and health concerns have conditioned the choices and reasons for food preferences, the choice of outlets and purchasing methods [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]. In the current post-COVID-19 period, the European consumer is looking for quality and healthy foods with natural ingredients to protect themselves from disease, protect the environment and provide sustainability to local economies [ 9 , 10 , 11 ].…”

Associations of food motives with red meat and legume consumption in the population-based DILGOM study

“…It is possible that food motives and related eating habits have changed during this time and especially during the COVID-19 pandemic [ 43 ]. A few studies, however, suggest that the changes in food motives have been temporary and long-term effects cannot be determined yet [ 44 , 45 ]. In a Finnish study, most people reported that the pandemic did not change their eating habits [ 46 ].…”

Perceptions from Member-Consumers of a University Community for Sustainable and Healthy Eating: Evidence from Greece

“…The pandemic has not had a significant impact on nutritional quality and sensory appeal, which are two of the main factors influencing food choices [27]. Over the years, experts have prioritized the promotion of medical guidelines regarding nutrient intake and proper consumption.…”

“…They have also provided recommendations for a balanced diet that does not prohibit the consumption of specific food products. According to the analyzed data, it appears to be more feasible to promote the exploration of healthier food choices among consumers, such as fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole foods [27]. Positive predictors and significant determinants of healthy eating attitudes are motives that indicate healthier perceptions, such as weight control, maintaining a healthy diet, and choosing organic food [28].…”