The Pandemic Health Crisis and Its Implications for Food and Nutritional Security in Latin America

Abstract

The inequalities in health are directly linked to food and to the nutritional profile; hunger and malnutrition, as well as overweight and obesity, increase in proportion to poverty. In the current COVID-19 pandemic scenario, social isolation measures implemented in several countries to prevent the collapse of health systems impose new rhythms on people’s lives and their daily routines, implying a reorganization of their vital structure and the necessary activities for its maintenance and reproduction. The restriction of circulation with the requirement to prepare food inside the home imposes food planning with options with some degree of industrial processing. In the diet of isolation, among the likely changes in food consumption models, there will certainly be an increase in ultraprocessed foods, mainly because containment measures have altered the dynamics of circulation and local trade of fresh products.

The combined consumption of fresh/minimally processed food and ultra-processed food on food insecurity: COVID Inconfidentes, a population-based survey

“…During the pandemic, social distancing measures and governmental blockades have imposed new routines and lifestyles worldwide, mainly affecting the food production chain and eating habits ( 37 ) . The production of fresh and minimally processed food, mostly carried out by family farmers, was affected in such a way that its production chain was limited not only by food distribution and logistical difficulties but also by trade, with a drastic reduction in the sale of less commercialised food, giving way to a greater purchase of processed food and UPF ( 38 ) . Food processing has become a central force shaping the hegemonic agroindustrial food system ( 39 ) .…”

“…Between 2010 and 2018, data from the Eating and Activity over Time study ( 48 ) collected from 1568 individuals noted that FI was associated with poorer diet quality, characterised by lower consumption of vegetables and whole grains and more sugar-sweetened beverages. Therefore, knowledge about food consumption in food-insecure families is highlighted so that it is possible to map and create strategies to promote health and adequate food supply in a way that involves food choices, whether economic or spatial ( 38 ) .…”

Komensalitas dalam Batas: Modifikasi Aktivitas Makan Bersama di Masa Pandemi Covid-19

“…Di seluruh dunia terutama sebelum masa pandemi Covid-19, jumlah orang yang gemar menikmati makan di luar rumah terus meningkat (Giordani, 2020). Hal ini dilatarbelakangi oleh beragam alasan.…”

Reconfiguration of Agrifood Supply Chain Management in Latin America during COVID-19: A Brief Literature Review

“…In recent decades, the food supply and supply of the population worldwide have undergone substantial changes, either due to interruptions in the access and consumption of products in so-called short-circuit markets, as well as interruptions caused by the acquisition outside the production unit of ingredients needed in the different stages of food processing [15]. In addition, due to the importance it represents for humanity's development and food security, the agrifood supply chain (AFSC) is considered a strategic sector worldwide [16], which demands a profound reconfiguration of its SC as an effect of the environmental and social problems that originate from agricultural practices and food distribution [17].…”

“…Food production in this region also has a relative degree of specialization, where certain groups of producers or farmers are dedicated to producing a single or a small number of products, thereby reducing the diversity of consumption. This specialization of products contributes to the need to buy other foods in other markets; however, in the face of the pandemic, limitations arose not only for trade but also for operations within LATAM territories due to difficulties related to transport logistics [15]. Particularly for the supply and distribution of products, logistics supported by small producers have also been considered a critical factor in addressing the challenges of food and nutritional insecurity faced by different regions of LATAM.…”