The National Food Access and COVID research Team (NFACT) is a collaboration of researchers at 18 sites across 15 states exploring the impact of COVID-19 on food access, food security and food systems. 

New Policy Briefs and Publications

Connecticut 

The Connecticut team surveyed 500 adults in August of 2020 and found that, during the early months of the pandemic, food insecurity had risen from pre-pandemic levels among respondents. Additionally, the results of the survey suggest that food insecure households and households with a member who was diagnosed with a nutrition-related condition experienced more changes to the dietary habits including decreased fruit and vegetable consumption and increased consumption of foods high in added sugar, saturated fat, and sodium.  You can read more about their findings in a newly published research brief: Food Insecurity, Consumer Habits, & Chronic Disease in the First Months of the COVID-19 Crisis. 

Maine and Vermont 

A collaborative team from the Vermont and Maine sites conducted a survey in the late spring/ early summer of 2021 that examined food security and a variety of health outcomes since the COVID-19 pandemic. The results summarized in new research brief, Change in Food Security and Health Outcomes Since the COVID-19 Pandemic in Northern New England, indicate that nearly half of respondents experienced anxiety or depression during the pandemic, and rates of anxiety and stress were notably higher for food insecure respondents and LGBTQ+ respondents.  The research also found that food insecure respondents were up to 7 times more likely to skip medications for anxiety, depression, and hypertension than food secure respondents.   

New Mexico

The New Mexico team has a new publication, Food Security, Access, and Challenges in New Mexico during COVID-19, in the most recent issue of Current Developments in Nutrition. This research  found a high prevalence of food insecurity since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and despite the population-wide effects of the pandemic, disparities in food security status seen before the pandemic persisted. Respondents who identified as Hispanic, female, or living in a large household were more likely to be food insecure. 

Researcher Spotlight

 What is your current position and general research focus? What is your role with NFACT research?

I am an undergraduate junior at Georgetown University and have been working on the NFACT project since December 2020 as a research and evaluation intern with the Institute for Hunger Research & Solutions at Connecticut Foodshare. We have focused on identifying which groups have been hardest hit by changes in food access during the pandemic, what factors prevent families in need from seeking help, and how food assistance programs can be tailored to address these concerns. I have contributed to this work by analyzing the datasets from our two NFACT surveys, interpreting results and their implications, and developing reports to communicate our findings.

What has been most surprising about your NFACT research?

I was taken aback by the pervasiveness of the stigma around visiting a food pantry or seeking other food assistance, even during a severe crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic. Many survey respondents expressed a preference for self-reliance rather than depending on food assistance and a fear that others would find out if they used a pantry, and we found that individuals who reported symptoms of anxiety and depression were less likely to use a food assistance program if they were food insecure. These results illustrated how important it is that pantries and other food programs break down barriers to entry and create environments that are welcoming, dignified, and trauma-informed.

How has your work with NFACT influenced your future work or field of study?

Because of my experience with NFACT, I’ve expanded the scope of the food equity club I lead at Georgetown and have begun working to develop a university-wide food access survey, which I hope to administer with the help of school administration. I’m eager to take a more evidence-based approach to addressing food insecurity on campus and use the insights I’ve gained as a part of NFACT to better understand how best to serve my school community. Working with NFACT has amplified my interest in public policy research, and I’ve begun exploring quantitative methods through statistics courses to further develop my data analysis skills. I’m excited to continue to work toward a career in policy research, and I’m thankful NFACT has been a part of that journey!

Please share a fun fact!

I’m an avid baseball fan and went to a World Series game in 2019!

NFACT in the News 

Have an update or idea for the newsletter?

Want to suggest a student or researcher to highlight?

Contact Mattie: malpaugh@uvm.edu

Want to contact NFACT or get involved?

Contact Meredith: mtniles@uvm.edu