Navigating Pandemic Hardships: Experiences of Food Insecurity in Racially/Ethnically Diverse Adults in Canada
Se'era May Anstruther1, Dana Lee Olstad1, Valérie Levacher2,3
1Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Sociology of Health & Illness
|March 28, 2026
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic worsened household food insecurity (HFI) for diverse Canadians, particularly those facing multiple stigmas. Policy changes are needed to address systemic inequities and improve food access during crises.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Sociology
- Health Equity
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated health, economic, and social disparities for adults in food-insecure households.
- Stigma intensifies household food insecurity (HFI) by restricting access to essential resources like nutritious food.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore experiences of HFI among diverse adults in Canadian food-insecure households during COVID-19.
- To gather programmatic and policy recommendations for reducing dietary inequities and enhancing food access during future public health emergencies.
Main Methods:
- Purposive sampling recruited 70 participants from Alberta, Ontario, and Québec.
- Semi-structured interviews were conducted, guided by the Stigma and Food Inequity Conceptual Framework.
- Data analysis involved directed content and narrative analysis.
Main Results:
- Three themes emerged: strained food access, coping strategies for food scarcity with hidden costs, and policy actions for equitable food access.
- HFI worsened during the pandemic, disproportionately affecting individuals with multiple, intersecting stigmatized identities.
- Systemic inequities, amplified by stigma, intensified physical and economic barriers to food access.
Conclusions:
- Lived experiences, analyzed within a stigma framework, are crucial for informing equitable policies and programs.
- Addressing structural drivers of HFI and intersecting stigmas is essential for future public health crises.
- Centering marginalized voices is key to building resilient and equitable food systems.
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