Eight in ten consumers changed their eating habits due to COVID-19

As many as 85% of Americans made changes in the food they eat or how they prepare food because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, according to the International Food Information Council’s (IFIC) 2020 Food and Health Survey.

The biggest change was that 60% of consumers reported cooking at home more. One-in-three said they are snacking more, and a quarter said they are thinking about food more than usual. Around 20% reported eating healthier than usual, eating more than usual and eating more pre-made meals from their pantry or freezer.

Younger consumers’ habits were the most impacted by the outbreak, IFIC found. More than 40% of consumers under the age of 35 reported snacking more than normal, compared to 26% of consumers over the age of 50. Younger consumers also were more likely to report eating both more and less healthy foods during the pandemic.

“Whether these particular impacts of the pandemic are only temporary remains to be seen,” said Joseph Clayton, president and chief executive officer of IFIC. “But it’s hard to think of another recent event that has had such far-reaching effects, and in such a short period, on how we purchase, prepare and consume foods and beverages.”