Examination of Structural Shift in Food Consumption During the COVID-19 Pandemic in India

The present study examines the impact of COVID-19-induced mobility restrictions and supply chain disruptions on the food security outcomes among households in India using a nationally representative survey. Using a structural change approach, we find that the relationship between covariates—monthly per capita expenditures, relative food prices and household characteristics, and measures of food security (food expenditure shares) and dietary diversification (share of staples in food expenditure) changed prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The greater responsiveness of food expenditure shares and staples expenditure shares after the outbreak of COVID-19 in India, particularly among the vulnerable and the marginalized, raise concerns about the household’s resilience to such unprecedented crises. This calls for effective action on the part of policymakers to boost aggregate demand, and create effective safety nets to overcome supply, price, and income shocks.