{"id":2126,"date":"2021-12-15T18:53:28","date_gmt":"2021-12-15T23:53:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/clientnewsfeed.hunterpr.com\/?p=2126"},"modified":"2021-12-15T18:55:04","modified_gmt":"2021-12-15T23:55:04","slug":"covid-19-pandemic-dominates-food-news-in-2021-and-drives-a-fundamental-change-in-americas-relationship-with-food-according-to-the-18th-annual-hunter-food-news-study","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/clientnewsfeed.hunterpr.com\/?p=2126","title":{"rendered":"COVID-19 Pandemic Dominates Food News in 2021 and Drives a Fundamental Change in America\u2019s Relationship with Food According to the 18th Annual HUNTER Food News Study"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Restaurant Mask Mandates and Labor Shortages Top the List of Leading Food News Stories According to Consumers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

New York, NY \u2013 Dec. 16, 2021\u2014<\/strong>For almost two years, the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on nearly every industry in every corner of the globe has dominated headlines. The 2021 HUNTER Food News Study<\/strong> confirms the significant influence these stories have had on consumers with mask mandates in restaurants and labor shortages leading the list of top food stories in the past year.  The study goes on to find that not only are consumers spending more time cooking and altering their meal preparation, but we are also starting to see a fundamental shift in America’s relationship with food.<\/p>\n

Since 2003, HUNTER, a leading food and beverage marketing communications consultancy, has commissioned the only annual longitudinal study of its kind to identify the top food news stories according to the opinions of Americans.  In 2020, HUNTER conducted two waves of research (Special Report: Wave One<\/a>; Special Report: Wave Two<\/a>) to better understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on consumers\u2019 behavior related to eating, drinking, cooking and sourcing food. This year, in partnership with Libran Research, HUNTER resumes the annual Food News Study and its focus on uncovering the most significant food news stories of 2021. Additionally, the study finds the impact of these stories and of the pandemic as a whole on Americans\u2019 food-related attitudes and behaviors.<\/p>\n

In the wake of COVID-19, many local officials instituted safety regulations to curb the spread of the virus such as mask mandates in most public places, including restaurants, <\/strong>which is the No. 1<\/strong> story of the 2021 HUNTER Food News Study. Global, national, and local media alike kept the public informed about the issuance of mask mandates, their efficacy, and the economic impact of these mandates on the restaurant industry at large.<\/p>\n

In the No. 2 <\/strong>spot, the pandemic forced many restaurants to close their doors, as diners and workers chose to stay home in response to fears of virus transmission which then caused widespread labor shortages<\/strong>.  As eating establishments began to open their doors in 2021, many restaurant owners faced issues with employee hiring and retention. <\/p>\n

Consumers are feeling the impact of COVID-19 at retail as well. Claiming the No. 3<\/strong> spot, U.S. inflation is rising at the fastest pace in more than a decade due to rising costs of raw materials, labor, and shipping. To offset increases in these costs and preserve profitability, many food and drink brands are increasing prices on their products.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The remainder of the top ten stories in the 2021 HUNTER Food News Study cover the continued importance of food safety, security and sustainability as well as rising dietary trends and the powerful impact of celebrity:<\/p>\n