Impacts of Community-Level Grassroots Organizations on Household Food Security During the COVID-19 Epidemic Period in China

Purchasing food from community-level grassroots organizations was a novel and unforgettable experience for Wuhan residents during the lockdown, but little attention was paid to it. The study examined the relationship between community-level grassroots organizations and household food insecurity based on an online survey of household food insecurity in Wuhan in March 2020. The study found that all three domains of food insecurity existed but were uneven. The COVID-19 epidemic affected household food quality the most, while it had the least impact on household food quantity. Community grassroots organizations played an important role in promoting food security including reducing worries about food supply and providing enough food intake, but it did not ensure households had adequate food quality due to increasing food prices, fewer varieties of food and decreased food freshness. Compared to other grassroots organizations, the community committee has a tight relationship with local government, which made it become the major grassroots power in ensuring household food security at the residential community level.