Very Low Food Security Among Low-Income Households With Children in California Before and Shortly After the Economic Downturn From COVID-19

Abstract

We examined levels of very low food security (VLFS) among low-income households with children in California before and shortly after the economic downturn from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Households were randomly sampled in 2018, 2019, and 2020; 11,653 mothers were administered the US Department of Agriculture 6-item Food Security Survey Module. Post–COVID-19 (April 27 to July 21, 2020, a period when stay-at-home restrictions were eased in the state), 14.0% of mothers reported VLFS versus 19.3% pre–COVID-19 (November 21, 2019, to March 14, 2020) (P =.003), 22.2% in 2019 (P