Anna Jastrzębiec-Witowska

Food Is Different During the Pandemic

Introduction

Food is different during the pandemic. Explore COVID-19's impact on food systems and security in developed countries like the US & Canada. Analyzes food access, availability, and the human right to food during the pandemic.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has left no area of human life unaffected and the food system in its global, regional, or micro manifestations is not an exception. The images of empty store shelves caused by lockdowns stirred a lot of anxiety among consumers in the so-called First World. At the same time, thousands of miles away, in the developing and underdeveloped countries, where having a meal is never taken for granted, people suffered the harshest consequences of any pandemic-related instability in the food system. Both these realities deserve intellectual reflection, with the former being far more intricate than its media portrayals and therefore will be explored further in this work. This paper aims to study the COVID-19 impact on food systems in developed countries such as the United States and Canada, as well as the challenges to the food security they face during the pandemic. It offers a top-down approach, starting with the definition of food security, and highlighting some crucial aspects of food access and food availability, which has been compromised by the spread of coronavirus in the two countries. Detailed analysis of responses to the pandemic-related food security problems in both countries will be offered as well. The right to food is presented here as a human right, and the links between that right and the concept of food security are brought out. The pandemic wreaked havoc on food security in many parts of the world, including the affluent, but at the same time revealed its fragility and the need for continuous monitoring, re-assessment, and improvement through more effective food programs. The emerging sliver of hope for a more just postpandemic food system should not be ignored.

Review

This paper addresses the profoundly significant and timely issue of the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on food systems, particularly emphasizing how it fundamentally altered the experience of food security across different global contexts. The abstract skillfully sets the stage by contrasting the anxieties over empty shelves in developed nations with the dire realities faced by vulnerable populations in developing countries, acknowledging both deserve intellectual reflection. The authors wisely narrow their focus to the developed world, specifically the United States and Canada, positing that the complexities of their food system disruptions are often understated by media portrayals. This selective yet critical approach promises to offer valuable insights into the resilience and vulnerabilities of affluent nations' food supply chains. The proposed methodology, beginning with a top-down definition of food security and exploring crucial aspects of food access and availability, appears sound for laying a foundational understanding. The commitment to a detailed analysis of responses to pandemic-related food security problems in both the US and Canada is a key strength, suggesting a comparative and policy-relevant approach. Furthermore, integrating the "right to food" as a human right and linking it to the concept of food security elevates the discussion beyond mere logistical challenges to a more ethical and philosophical plane. This framing offers a robust lens through which to examine the pandemic's revelations about the inherent fragility of even seemingly stable food systems and the critical need for continuous monitoring and improvement. While the abstract clearly outlines a compelling research agenda, certain elements prompt further thought. The assertion that the developed world's experience is "far more intricate than its media portrayals" is a strong claim that the paper must meticulously substantiate, particularly when juxtaposed against the explicit acknowledgement of the severe suffering in developing nations. The "detailed analysis of responses" will need to be rigorously evidence-based, drawing on specific examples and policy outcomes from the US and Canada to demonstrate the effectiveness or shortcomings of their interventions. Finally, the concluding "sliver of hope for a more just postpandemic food system" is an inspiring note, but the paper will need to clearly articulate how the specific findings from US and Canadian experiences contribute to this vision and what concrete pathways emerge for achieving greater justice and resilience in food systems globally.

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