After the outbreak of the pandemic, people had undergone severe lockdowns under two phases for over two months. As a result, the general public was forced to change their consumption habits in response to the situation. There have been significant changes in the consumption of essential food items, which are the basic commodities required for survival. To assess these changes, a structured questionnaire was administered to 200 respondents, 100 from rural areas and 100 from urban areas, using a multi-stage sampling technique. According to the findings of this study, people's food consumption habits have changed as a result of price increases, accessibility, preference, and nutrition, with respondents in rural areas reporting an increase in consumption of milk, chicken, fresh fruits, dry fruits, and green leafy vegetables based on their perception as healthy foods and availability. Urban respondents reported an increase in milk, chicken, citrus fruits, and vegetable consumption, but a decrease in rice consumption due to physical inactivity and a decrease in green leafy vegetable consumption due to a lack of availability. Despite the change in consumption of these foods, normal consumption of other essential food items was observed with less significant changes when compared to pre-Covid time. The survey was a little difficult to conduct because respondents had difficulty remembering the quantities consumed in 2019 and 2020. It was a bit challenging to conduct the survey as respondents found it difficult in memorizing the quantities of foods consumed during 2019 and 2020.

Consumption pattern, Essential food items, Covid-19, Dietary habits

The present study analyses the changes in the consumption of essential food items that occurred during the lockdown. The results of this study found that people have observed changes in consumption patterns of essential food items during the pandemic. This pattern varied across rural and urban areas as the food availability and people’s perceptions were different in the prescribed regions. Based on influential factors like price, accessibility or availability of preferred foods in the respective region and income of the family, people altered their consumption patterns and behaviour. The change in essential food items was observed more in food items like fresh vegetables (roots and tubers, green leafy vegetables), fruits (citrus fruits, dry fruits, grapes), chicken and milk which showed an increase in consumption during Covid in both rural and urban areas. However, some respondents had reported that they had willingly decreased the consumption of foods due to lack of appetite due to infection and also due to physical inactivity during the lockdown period.

S. Shivani and V. Vijaya Lakshmi (2022). A Comparative Study on Change in Consumption Patterns of Essential Food Items during Pre and post-Covid Periods. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 14(4a): 328-333.