Food Safety in times of Pandemic by COVID-19

Abstract

The food safety of populations living in prolonged social isolation such as that presented by the SARS CoV-2 virus that produces COVID 19 is a concern for Public Health, from the academy research is carried out that provides information and evidence for the formulation of public policies, reorientation of actions. Objective: to make an approximate measurement of food security in times of the COVID-19 pandemic in Costa Rica. Materials and Methods: 161 people over 18 years of age participated voluntarily and anonymously by responding to a survey through the social network Facebook with public access settings for anyone who used this means of social communication. The data was collected from October 12 to 22, 2020. Results: 56% of households live with severe food insecurity, 17% with moderate insecurity, and 27% with mild insecurity, no households with food security were registered. No statistically significant relationship was found between food insecurity and the variables studied. 46% showed concern because food is running out at home and not being able to buy more, 24% reported unhealthy eating due to lack of money and 34% little varied eating for the same reason, 10% indicated that at home some adult stopped eating food due to lack of money. Conclusion: Seven months after the start of the pandemic, households live in conditions of food insecurity, with a greater presence of the type of severe insecurity, followed by mild insecurity.