Spatial characteristics of food insecurity and food access in Los Angeles County during the COVID-19 pandemic

Michelle Sarah Livings (), John Wilson, Sydney Miller, Wändi Bruine de Bruin, Kate Weber, Marianna Babboni, Mengya Xu, Kenan Li and Kayla de la Haye
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Michelle Sarah Livings: Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, University of Southern California
John Wilson: Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, University of Southern California
Sydney Miller: University of Southern California
Wändi Bruine de Bruin: University of Southern California
Kate Weber: University of Southern California
Marianna Babboni: University of Southern California
Mengya Xu: Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, University of Southern California
Kenan Li: Saint Louis University
Kayla de la Haye: University of Southern California

Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, 2023, vol. 15, issue 5, No 8, 1255-1271

Abstract: Abstract Food insecurity spiked in some U.S. regions during the COVID-19 pandemic, as did food access challenges. Concerns were raised that these food issues were more prominent in food deserts, or neighborhoods lacking access to a grocery store or supermarket. Using data collected from a representative sample of Los Angeles County adults between April and October 2020, this study examined relationships between self-reported food insecurity, perceived food access barriers, and residing in a food desert, and examined differences across key geographic regions of the county. There was little relationship between residing in a food desert and experiencing food insecurity. However, perceived grocery store closures/limited hours and not having access to a vehicle were commonly reported barriers to food access, which were associated with more food insecurity. These findings suggest that geographic disparities in food access impact food insecurity. Efforts to address food insecurity should center on achieving food justice and addressing disparities across geographic regions.

Keywords: Food environment; Food access; Food justice; Food desert; Food insecurity; COVID-19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1007/s12571-023-01381-5

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