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Wilson: Pandemic has many of us looking differently at food

While COVID-19 is nearing its first anniversary in Ontario, many people are beginning to re-access their health, their exercise, and hopefully their toilet paper needs. Come on, does anyone really need 186 rolls of toilet paper?

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While COVID-19 is nearing its first anniversary in Ontario, many people are beginning to reassess their health, their exercise, and hopefully their toilet paper needs. Come on, does anyone really need 186 rolls of toilet paper?

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That said, when it comes to health and nutrition, a recent report online suggested that almost a third of people consumed more functional foods and beverages in 2020 than in previous years, and also anticipate that number to continue to climb as this pandemic continues.

Additionally, the same report estimates that the global market for health and wellness foods currently sit at $764 billion, with a projected growth skyrocketing to $1 trillion by the year 2027.

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With that information on hand, here are some of the considerations that may drive these numbers even higher.

The first one is immunity. People are increasingly reaching for products that offer immunity-boosting benefits as a preventative measure. The food market is likely seeing a rise in products that contain immune-boosting natural ingredients such as turmeric, ginger and apple cider vinegar, as well as vitamins, minerals, prebiotics and probiotics.

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And then there’s COVID-30. That slang term is used by people claiming that COVID and lockdowns have contributed to their significant weight gain. I am part of this group.

In addition to the weight gain, it has been documented there are a higher number of COVID-19 illness rates in people who are deemed obese. That said, more people are exploring home exercise routines in order to promote better physical and mental well-being.

And what about the See Through Market? While it is highly unlikely that someone will contract COVID-19 through food, there has been some anxiety around the possibility of contamination in a time that is highly uncertain. Greater transparency within our food sector is a growing market trend, with rising demand for organic, eco-friendly and clean-labelled health and wellness products allowing consumers to feel greater control over their well-being.

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The Feel Good Market. This pandemic has caused anxiety, disruption and uncertainty for many, to which I feel I could write a book about. It has also been reported that spending more time at home can lead to sleep complications while social distancing and quarantine can no doubt lead to isolation and depression.

With higher stress levels, people are looking for products that promote relaxation, improved sleep and mental well-being.

Overall, I think that we can expect that food producers will continue to be innovative in providing people with products that offer highly tangible benefits, while the wider industry strives to achieve greater nutritional awareness and healthier eating.

This has most probably been a direct result of the pandemic, and may not be bad thing for us all.

Until next time, stay safe my friends.

Remember that here in Chatham-Kent “We Grow for the World.” Check out our community agriculture website at wegrowfortheworld.com

Anthony Wilson is an economic development officer with the Municipality of Chatham-Kent, and can be reached at anthonyw@chatham-kent.ca

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