Examining the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Food Systems, Food Security, and Food Access in Washington State

Tell us how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting food access and diet in Washington!

Take the Survey!

The University of Washington and Washington State University, with support from Tacoma Community College, have created the Washington State Food Security Survey (WAFOOD) to monitor how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted economic security and food access for Washington State residents. This information will help state and community partners to identify needs and support resource allocation for WA State residents.

• You may access the online survey here: https://redcap.link/WAFOOD2
• It should only take about 15 minutes to complete, and is computer and smart phone-capable.

This survey will ask questions about your health, food access, and economic needs. The goal is to learn more about how WA residents are handling economic and food disruptions due to the pandemic. Washington State residents who are 18 years or older may participate.

Upon completing the survey, you will have the option to provide an email address to enter a drawing for a $50 grocery store gift card (one of fifty). Entering the drawing is optional, and you can participate in the survey without providing an email address. Taking part in this study is voluntary. You will NOT be asked for your name, protected health information, or any identifying information.

About the Project

Initial Reports from first survey conducted June-July 2020 Available Below: Scroll down to view all reports.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted multiple components of the food system, affecting the food supply and greatly reducing consumer purchasing power. Food production, processing, and delivery systems are experiencing instability. There is an unprecedented need for unemployment benefits, public assistance programs, and food from local food banks. Food systems are changing, perhaps forever, and the consequences on diets, health, and well-being of US households remain to be assessed. Moreover, local, state, and federal measures to mitigate the dietary and health consequences of COVID-19 lack geo-located and granular data to aid in decision-making.

The online survey will assess recent changes experienced by households in food access pathways, the types of foods acquired, their nutritional value and their price. We also propose to assess food insecurity and economic well-being, with an emphasis on lower-income households.

Using the survey data, we will make and map estimates of prevalence of measures and compare the responses to pre-pandemic estimates, and we will explore differences in measures by relevant characteristics and location. The study will provide insights to Washington State agencies trying to respond to rapid-scale alterations in the food system and in food demand, inform Washington State efforts currently under way and led by WSU that are measuring and mapping food bank system needs by County, and be used to model food systems resilience and preparedness for future pandemics, disaster events and large-scale shocks.