[Effects of COVID-19 pandemic on food insecurity perception in Chilean households]

The coronavirus 2 pandemic (COVID-19) has caused intense changes in lifestyles, feeding, and nutrition habits.

To analyze food insecurity and eating habits during the period of quarantine in a group of Chilean individuals.

An online survey was conducted in 2,767 households with questions about the sociodemographic composition of the household, household food purchasing habits in the quarantine period for COVID-19, and perception of food insecurity.

More than 60% of households (p < 0.01) were worried about not having enough food, especially when children under 18 years of age lived in them. This perception increased in urban households (p < 0.01) and those located in the Central-Southern and Southern regions (p < 0.01). During the pandemic, the consumption of healthy products such as milk increased in 50% of households, legumes in 72%, eggs in 79%, fruits in 54%, vegetables in 67% and water in 81%. There was also a lower consumption of unhealthy and ultra-processed foods such as hot-dogs in 90% of households, sausages in 73%, sugary drinks in 79% and ice cream in 83%.

The COVID-19 pandemic in Chile increased the perception of food insecurity in households with vulnerable conditions. However, the consumption of healthier foods increased.