IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v21y2024i12p1544-d1526284.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Changes in Availability and Affordability on the University Food Environment: The Potential Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author

Listed:
  • Patrícia Maria Périco Perez

    (Institute of Nutrition, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), R. São Francisco Xavier, 524-Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro 20550-013, RJ, Brazil)

  • Maria Eduarda Ribeiro José

    (Institute of Nutrition, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), R. São Francisco Xavier, 524-Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro 20550-013, RJ, Brazil)

  • Isabella Fideles da Silva

    (Institute of Nutrition, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), R. São Francisco Xavier, 524-Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro 20550-013, RJ, Brazil)

  • Ana Cláudia Mazzonetto

    (Institute of Nutrition, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), R. São Francisco Xavier, 524-Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro 20550-013, RJ, Brazil)

  • Daniela Silva Canella

    (Institute of Nutrition, Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), R. São Francisco Xavier, 524-Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro 20550-013, RJ, Brazil)

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on the eating habits of the general population, among other reasons, because it has affected access to commercial establishments since some of them closed. This study aimed to describe potential changes that occurred between 2019 and 2022 in the availability and affordability of food and beverages in the food environment of a Brazilian public university. Methods: Cross-sectional and descriptive study conducted at a public university located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Audits were carried out in all establishments selling food and beverages at the university’s main campus in 2019 and 2022. Descriptive analysis with frequencies and means was carried out and the 95% confidence intervals were compared. Results: Over the period, there was a decrease in the on-campus number of establishments, dropping from 20 to 14, and ultra-processed foods became more prevalent. In general, the decrease in the number of establishments led to a reduction in the supply of fresh or minimally processed foods and beverages, and higher average prices were noted. Conclusions: The pandemic seems to have deteriorated the availability and the prices of healthy food in the university food environment, making healthy choices harder for students and the university community.

Suggested Citation

  • Patrícia Maria Périco Perez & Maria Eduarda Ribeiro José & Isabella Fideles da Silva & Ana Cláudia Mazzonetto & Daniela Silva Canella, 2024. "Changes in Availability and Affordability on the University Food Environment: The Potential Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(12), pages 1-10, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:12:p:1544-:d:1526284
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/12/1544/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/21/12/1544/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Stacy M. Fandetti & Alicia Anne Dahl & Caitlan Webster & Morium Barakat Bably & Maren J. Coffman & Elizabeth F. Racine, 2023. "Healthy Food Policies Documented in University Food Service Contracts," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(16), pages 1-14, August.
    2. Lucia A. Leone & Sheila Fleischhacker & Betsy Anderson-Steeves & Kaitlyn Harper & Megan Winkler & Elizabeth Racine & Barbara Baquero & Joel Gittelsohn, 2020. "Healthy Food Retail during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Challenges and Future Directions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-14, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Catherine Nkirote Kunyanga & Morten Fibieger Byskov & Keith Hyams & Samuel Mburu & Grace Werikhe & Rawlynce Bett, 2023. "Influence of COVID-19 Pandemic on Food Market Prices and Food Supply in Urban Markets in Nairobi, Kenya," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-20, January.
    2. Sylvain Charlebois & Mark Juhasz & Janet Music, 2021. "Supply Chain Responsiveness to a (Post)-Pandemic Grocery and Food Service E-Commerce Economy: An Exploratory Canadian Case Study," Businesses, MDPI, vol. 1(2), pages 1-19, July.
    3. Matthew J. Landry & Kim Phan & Jared T. McGuirt & Alek Ostrander & Lilian Ademu & Mia Seibold & Kathleen McCallops & Tara Tracy & Sheila E. Fleischhacker & Allison Karpyn, 2021. "USDA Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Vendor Criteria: An Examination of US Administrative Agency Variations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-21, March.
    4. Li Li & Yiting Dong & Wen Shuai, 2024. "Navigating Epidemics: the Interplay of Risk Perception, Information Diversity, and Healthy Eating Behaviors During the COVID-19 Pandemic," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 15(3), pages 14521-14545, September.
    5. Anne E. Lally & Alban Morina & Leah N. Vermont & Jill N. Tirabassi & Lucia A. Leone, 2022. "Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mobile Produce Market Operations: Adaptations, Barriers, and Future Directions for Increasing Food Access," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-16, September.
    6. Hamid El Bilali & Lawali Dambo & Jacques Nanema & Sheirita Reine Fanta Tietiambou & Iro Dan Guimbo & Romaric Kiswendsida Nanema, 2023. "Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Agri-Food Systems in West Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-23, July.
    7. Rachel Gillespie & Emily DeWitt & Stacey Slone & Kathryn Cardarelli & Alison Gustafson, 2022. "The Impact of a Grocery Store Closure in One Rural Highly Obese Appalachian Community on Shopping Behavior and Dietary Intake," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-12, March.
    8. Gabriele Scozzafava & Caterina Contini & Francesca Gerini & Leonardo Casini, 2022. "Post-lockdown changes in diet in Italy and the USA: Return to old habits or structural changes?," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 10(1), pages 1-20, December.
    9. Alyssa Moran & Christina Roberto, 2020. "The Retail Food Environment: Time for a Change," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-4, November.
    10. Jing Chen & Yong Zhang & Shiyao Zhu & Lei Liu, 2021. "Does COVID-19 Affect the Behavior of Buying Fresh Food? Evidence from Wuhan, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-15, April.
    11. Samantha M. Sundermeir & Megan R. Winkler & Sara John & Uriyoán Colón-Ramos & Ravneet Kaur & Ashley Hickson & Rachael D. Dombrowski & Alex B. Hill & Bree Bode & Julia DeAngelo & Joel Gittelsohn, 2022. "A Commentary on the Healthy Community Stores Case Study Project: Implications for Retailers, Policy, and Future Research," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-11, July.
    12. Viktória Szente & Imre Fertő & Zsófia Benedek, 2022. "Growing couch potatoes? The impact of COVID-19 in the light of personal values in Hungary," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 10(1), pages 1-18, December.
    13. Zhongyu He & Weijie Pan, 2022. "Food Acquisition during the COVID-19 Lockdown and Its Associations with the Physical–Digital Integrated Community Food Environment: A Case Study of Nanjing, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-13, June.
    14. Rolandas Drejeris & Martynas Rusteika, 2022. "New Approach to the Public Authorities’ Activities Development in the Crop Insurance System: Lithuanian Case," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-15, August.
    15. Mackenzie J. Ferrante & Juliana Goldsmith & Sara Tauriello & Leonard H. Epstein & Lucia A. Leone & Stephanie Anzman-Frasca, 2021. "Food Acquisition and Daily Life for U.S. Families with 4- to 8-Year-Old Children during COVID-19: Findings from a Nationally Representative Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-15, February.
    16. Shi, Longzhong & Chen, Xuan & Chen, Bo & Qiu, Jingran & Li, Li, 2021. "Assessing Consumers’ Willingness to Pay for Covid-19-tested Food Labels," 2021 ASAE 10th International Conference (Virtual), January 11-13, Beijing, China 329403, Asian Society of Agricultural Economists (ASAE).
    17. Barbara Urszula Buraczyńska & Anna Elżbieta Żelazna & Agnieszka Barbara Bojanowska, 2022. "The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Behaviours of Polish Consumers in the Organic Products Market," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-12, September.
    18. Bart Geurden & Jeroen Cant & Joris Beckers, 2022. "Food Accessibility in the Suburbs of the Metropolitan City of Antwerp (Belgium): A Factor of Concern in Local Public Health and Active and Healthy Aging," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-13, November.
    19. Stephanie Louise Godrich & Flavio Macau & Katherine Kent & Johnny Lo & Amanda Devine, 2022. "Food Supply Impacts and Solutions Associated with the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Regional Australian Case Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-16, March.
    20. Vincent Abella & Johnfil Initan & Jake Mark Perez & Philip Virgil Astillo & Luis Gerardo Cañete & Gaurav Choudhary, 2024. "Machine Learning-Assisted Dynamic Proximity-Driven Sorting Algorithm for Supermarket Navigation Optimization: A Simulation-Based Validation," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-24, August.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:12:p:1544-:d:1526284. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.