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The Impact of COVID-19 on Canada’s Food Literacy: Results of a Cross-National Survey

Author

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  • Sylvain Charlebois

    (Agri-Food Analytics Lab, Dalhouise University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada)

  • Janet Music

    (Agri-Food Analytics Lab, Dalhouise University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada)

  • Shannon Faires

    (Agri-Food Analytics Lab, Dalhouise University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada)

Abstract

Several studies of food literacy emphasise the acquisition of critical knowledge over context. This evaluation looks at how COVID-19 impacted food literacy in a country affected by the global pandemic. To our knowledge, there has been no systematic research that would allow a better understanding of the impact of uncertainty or enhanced perceived risks generated by a global crisis on the prevalence of household food literacy. This study looks at food literacy from a perceptive of how an event that has domesticated many of them can alter knowledge and the relationship people have with food. A cross-national survey including 10,004 Canadians was conducted ten months after the start of the pandemic. Results show that Canadians have learned new recipes. Canadians have also taken up gardening and have relied on several sources to gather information. This study provides some evidence that Canadians have become more food literate because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but less significantly than anticipated. Practical and policy implications are presented as well as some future research directions.

Suggested Citation

  • Sylvain Charlebois & Janet Music & Shannon Faires, 2021. "The Impact of COVID-19 on Canada’s Food Literacy: Results of a Cross-National Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-13, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:10:p:5485-:d:558709
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    Cited by:

    1. 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.
    2. Stefanie Colombo & Juan A. Manríquez-Hernández & Janet Music & Sylvain Charlebois, 2024. "Canadians’ Opinions and Preferences regarding Seafood, and the Factors That Contribute to Their Consumption and Purchasing Habits," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-12, January.

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