Food Insecurity Survey APAC

Food Insecurity Experienced in Asia Pacific During Pandemic

68% of those who have faced food insecurity dealt with it for the first time

ASIA PACIFIC, April 30, 2021 – Almost 7 in 10 Asia Pacific consumers who have faced “food insecurity” at some point in their lives experienced it for the first time in recent months, according to new research. Food insecurity is defined as the lack of available financial resources for food at the household level, and has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The research delved into family nutrition trends during the pandemic and was conducted by OnePoll, on behalf of Herbalife and Feed the Children, among 2,500 consumers in five Asia Pacific markets, including Hong Kong, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam.

“We see that food insecurity has impacted parents more during the pandemic because they lacked safe options to get fresh and healthy foods, and had not enough money to buy the food needed. Many parents were also worried about the pandemic’s lasting health impact on their children,” said Stephen Conchie, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Herbalife Asia Pacific. 

“Since food insecurity and poor nutrition are associated with several chronic illnesses, there is an urgent need to provide families and children with safe and affordable meal alternatives to allay concerns about food insecurity in the longer term. With this goal in mind, Herbalife’s Nutrition for Zero Hunger initiative is just one of the ways we collaborate with non-profit organizations and share resources to bring about that vital change,” he added.

Shifts in Food Purchasing Behaviors 

With 68% of Asia Pacific consumers who faced food security concerns experiencing it for the first time in during the pandemic, close to half (52%) of Asia Pacific consumers also started purchasing less expensive foods. Respondents shared that they also started shopping at different, less expensive stores (40%), skipped meals (34%), and received food assistance from a food bank or a local community center (32%).  

Parents Struggle in Maintaining Healthy, Balanced Diet

While the top food and nutrition issue among all respondents was the inability to eat a balanced diet during the pandemic (34%), there were significant differences reported between respondents who were parents compared to non-parents, including:- 

• Lack of access to fruits and veggies (40% for parents vs. 24% for non-parents) 
• Lack of safe options to get food (39% for parents vs. 26% for non-parents) 
• Not enough money to purchase the food we needed (33% for parents vs. 22% for non-parents) 

Parents Display Concern about Lasting Health Impacts 

Nine in 10 Asia Pacific parents (90%) surveyed worry that their child will have lasting health effects as a result of food insecurity during the pandemic. Since most children (70%) are currently doing online learning from home, 63% of parents surveyed worry that they are not getting all the nutrients they need because of the disrupted access to school meals. As such, the majority (73%) have been making lunch for their children either at lunchtime or before leaving for the day.  

To ensure children can maintain a balanced diet during the pandemic, about half of the parents (55%) said that the government should promote flexible working hours for parents to ensure their kids are eating well. Other popular solutions are for schools to provide easy, healthy meal recipes for parents to use (43%) and relying on food delivery to increase healthy food options (31%). 

About Herbalife

Herbalife is a global company that has been changing people's lives with great nutrition products and a proven business opportunity for its independent distributors since 1980. The Company offers high-quality, science-backed products, sold in over 90 countries by entrepreneurial distributors who provide one-on-one coaching and a supportive community that inspires their customers to embrace a healthier, more active lifestyle. Through the Company’s global campaign to eradicate hunger, Herbalife is also committed to bringing nutrition and education to communities around the world. 

About Nutrition for Zero Hunger

Through Nutrition for Zero Hunger, Herbalife is helping tackle rising global hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition. As a leader in the nutrition industry, we are committed to addressing this need through combined efforts for access to healthy nutrition and nutrition education. Nutrition for Zero Hunger aligns with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal 2, which calls for bold action to end malnutrition in all its forms by 2030, as well as solutions to end global hunger and improve nutrition worldwide. The initiative addresses global hunger, food security and malnutrition through key commitments to ensure greater access, education, and empowerment of healthy nutrition worldwide. 

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