Axios Visuals Deep Dive: Pandemic eating

National

A food revolution began pre-pandemic, partly due to a culture war inspired by climate change. 

COVID — with its supply chain issues, social distancing, worker shortages, even the loss of smell and taste — accelerated all that.

America's food industry is transforming, from farm to your table.

1. How the pandemic changed how we eat

Illustration of a slice of pie in the shape of an American flag with chart elements

Visuals Deep Dive 2021

A food revolution began pre-pandemic, partly due to a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="culture war" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/food-climate-culture-wars-214118ef-6cc3-487a-9a21-ef5648ca8a81.html" data-vars-content-id="bb3356ba-19e2-4d50-bc71-208650aa05f4" data-vars-headline="How the pandemic changed how we eat" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/food-climate-culture-wars-214118ef-6cc3-487a-9a21-ef5648ca8a81.html" target="_self">culture war</a> inspired by climate change. <ul><li>COVID — with its supply chain issues, social distancing, worker shortages, even the loss of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="smell and taste" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/coronavirus-smell-loss-anosmia-3046b6f5-9164-4d82-9884-a59b495ffd9a.html" data-vars-content-id="bb3356ba-19e2-4d50-bc71-208650aa05f4" data-vars-headline="How the pandemic changed how we eat" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/coronavirus-smell-loss-anosmia-3046b6f5-9164-4d82-9884-a59b495ffd9a.html" target="_self">smell and taste</a> — accelerated all that.</li></ul>America&#x27;s food industry is transforming, from farm to your table.

After a record economic expansion, the coronavirus pandemic sent the U.S. economy into a recession as unemployment soared to staggering heights. The country now faces urgent questions about how much stimulus is needed for reeling consumers and businesses, and what a recovery might look like.

Economy & Business

Data: National Corn Growers Association, Axios research; Infographic: Alli Torban/Axios

Corn-supply interruptions include worker shortages, unpredictable ethanol demand and machinery scarcity.

Then stir in hurricanes, droughts and fertilizer tariffs. 

The bottom line: These layers of disruptions add up, triggering gyrating costs for corn, a foundation of the food supply — both as feedstock and table staple.

2. The pandemic wreaked havoc on the corn supply chain

Worker shortages, unpredictable ethanol demand and machinery scarcity all played a role in higher prices.

Corn-supply interruptions include <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="worker shortages" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ttnews.com/articles/shortage-truck-drivers-concerns-california-ag-producers" data-vars-content-id="27e6175d-385d-444d-8675-175d496b9bf6" data-vars-headline="The pandemic wreaked havoc on the corn supply chain" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ttnews.com/articles/shortage-truck-drivers-concerns-california-ag-producers" target="_blank">worker shortages</a>, unpredictable <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ethanol demand" data-vars-click-url="https://www.agriculture.com/news/business/happy-days-are-herea-again-for-the-ethanol-industry" data-vars-content-id="27e6175d-385d-444d-8675-175d496b9bf6" data-vars-headline="The pandemic wreaked havoc on the corn supply chain" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.agriculture.com/news/business/happy-days-are-herea-again-for-the-ethanol-industry" target="_blank">ethanol demand</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="machinery scarcity" data-vars-click-url="https://www.reuters.com/world/the-great-reboot/desperate-tires-components-shortage-roils-us-harvest-2021-10-12/" data-vars-content-id="27e6175d-385d-444d-8675-175d496b9bf6" data-vars-headline="The pandemic wreaked havoc on the corn supply chain" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/the-great-reboot/desperate-tires-components-shortage-roils-us-harvest-2021-10-12/" target="_blank">machinery scarcity</a>.<ul><li>Then stir in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="hurricanes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-farmers-face-supply-shortages-higher-costs-after-hurricane-ida-2021-09-22/" data-vars-content-id="27e6175d-385d-444d-8675-175d496b9bf6" data-vars-headline="The pandemic wreaked havoc on the corn supply chain" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-farmers-face-supply-shortages-higher-costs-after-hurricane-ida-2021-09-22/" target="_blank">hurricanes</a>, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="droughts" data-vars-click-url="https://www.agriculture.com/weather/news/feast-or-famine-deepening-drought-in-the-corn-belt-but-flooding-in-the-south" data-vars-content-id="27e6175d-385d-444d-8675-175d496b9bf6" data-vars-headline="The pandemic wreaked havoc on the corn supply chain" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.agriculture.com/weather/news/feast-or-famine-deepening-drought-in-the-corn-belt-but-flooding-in-the-south" target="_blank">droughts</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fertilizer tariffs" data-vars-click-url="https://ocj.com/2021/11/concerns-of-shortages-crippling-prices-due-to-tariffs-on-fertilizers/" data-vars-content-id="27e6175d-385d-444d-8675-175d496b9bf6" data-vars-headline="The pandemic wreaked havoc on the corn supply chain" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://ocj.com/2021/11/concerns-of-shortages-crippling-prices-due-to-tariffs-on-fertilizers/" target="_blank">fertilizer tariffs</a>. </li></ul>The bottom line: These layers of disruptions add up, triggering <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="gyrating costs" data-vars-click-url="https://farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/2021/11/planting-and-acreage-decisions-in-2022.html" data-vars-content-id="27e6175d-385d-444d-8675-175d496b9bf6" data-vars-headline="The pandemic wreaked havoc on the corn supply chain" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/2021/11/planting-and-acreage-decisions-in-2022.html" target="_blank">gyrating costs</a> for corn, a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="foundation" data-vars-click-url="https://www.agriculture.com/news/business/corn-to-take-a-leading-role-as-farmers-chase-high-commodity-prices" data-vars-content-id="27e6175d-385d-444d-8675-175d496b9bf6" data-vars-headline="The pandemic wreaked havoc on the corn supply chain" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.agriculture.com/news/business/corn-to-take-a-leading-role-as-farmers-chase-high-commodity-prices" target="_blank">foundation</a> of the food supply — both as feedstock and table staple.

Data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; Chart: Jared Whalen/Axios

Rising pay isn't bringing in enough restaurant workers, adding to the strain on current employees.

A survey of 4,700+ former, current and aspiring restaurant workers found many employees aren't leaving the workforce — just restaurants.

Among respondents who left jobs in the past 18 months, 28% did so for higher paying jobs in a different industry, according to the survey by Black Box Intelligence and Snagajob.

The big picture: Restaurants and bars are still 1 million jobs down from pre-pandemic levels. Combative customers, unpredictable schedules, lack of benefits, career changes, and fear of COVID all take their toll.

3. Food and hospitality industries still recovering from pandemic shock

A survey found many restaurant workers aren't leaving the workforce — just restaurants.

Jobs

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Rising pay" data-vars-click-url="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t24.htm" data-vars-content-id="d5f01e74-a109-4e19-8922-d2f601a6f4ca" data-vars-headline="Food and hospitality industries still recovering from pandemic shock" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t24.htm" target="_blank">Rising pay</a> isn&#x27;t bringing in enough restaurant workers, adding to the strain on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="current employees" data-vars-click-url="https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/now-hiring-how-the-labor-shortage-is-squeezing-full-service-restaurants/599453/" data-vars-content-id="d5f01e74-a109-4e19-8922-d2f601a6f4ca" data-vars-headline="Food and hospitality industries still recovering from pandemic shock" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/now-hiring-how-the-labor-shortage-is-squeezing-full-service-restaurants/599453/" target="_blank">current employees</a>.<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="A survey" data-vars-click-url="https://blackboxintelligence.com/snagajob-black-box-intelligence-restaurant-hourly-worker-report/" data-vars-content-id="d5f01e74-a109-4e19-8922-d2f601a6f4ca" data-vars-headline="Food and hospitality industries still recovering from pandemic shock" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://blackboxintelligence.com/snagajob-black-box-intelligence-restaurant-hourly-worker-report/" target="_blank">A survey</a> of 4,700+ former, current and aspiring restaurant workers found many employees aren&#x27;t leaving the workforce — just restaurants.

The pandemic created a surge in demand for food delivery services, with such speed that regulations protecting workers haven't kept up — making those jobs much more dangerous, according to a report.

Play the Axios game to experience delivery life (click on the link in the image below).

Data: Los Deliveristas/Worker's Justice Project and Cornell ILR's Worker Institute; Graphic: Jacque Schrag/Axios; Illustrations: Maura Losch, Aïda Amer/Axios

Details: The report by Los Deliveristas/Worker's Justice Project and Cornell ILR’s Worker Institute, surveyed 500 food delivery workers in New York City from December 2020 to April 2021. They found harsh working conditions, including...

Average net pay (excluding tips) was $7.87/hour.

Around half reported having been in an accident — often being hit by someone opening a car door.

83% reported being denied the use of a bathroom at restaurants.

What's new: Ten days after the report was published, NYC lawmakers passed a set of bills aimed at protecting delivery workers.

This month, DoorDash announced an in-app feature called SafeDash as a way for drivers to seek emergency help.

Yes, but: Despite this, there are no federal guidelines detailing protections for food couriers, whom many see as essential workers during the pandemic.

State protections also remain limited or nonexistent.

Of note: Delivery worker protection issues are not limited to the U.S. and do not account for gender-based harassment.

The bottom line: Remember to tip those real people making those deliveries happen.

4. Game: Could you manage as a food delivery courier?

Play the game and see how you'd handle the harsh conditions faced by some food delivery people.

Illustration of a silhouetted food delivery person riding a bike surrounded by organic shapes and a grid

Retail

The pandemic created a surge in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="demand" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/doordash-grubhub-uber-delivery-apps-72c55d0f-a066-4f8a-a6e3-e0108d8516b9.html" data-vars-content-id="9ed379df-f8b5-4b9a-bed3-798746fa788e" data-vars-headline="Game: Could you manage as a food delivery courier?" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/doordash-grubhub-uber-delivery-apps-72c55d0f-a066-4f8a-a6e3-e0108d8516b9.html" target="_self">demand</a> for food delivery services, with such speed that regulations protecting workers haven&#x27;t kept up — making those jobs much more dangerous, according to a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ilr.cornell.edu/worker-institute/blog/reports-and-publications/first-its-kind-industry-report-shows-new-york-citys-app-based-delivery-workers-experience-harsh" data-vars-content-id="9ed379df-f8b5-4b9a-bed3-798746fa788e" data-vars-headline="Game: Could you manage as a food delivery courier?" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ilr.cornell.edu/worker-institute/blog/reports-and-publications/first-its-kind-industry-report-shows-new-york-citys-app-based-delivery-workers-experience-harsh" target="_blank">report</a>.Play the Axios game to experience delivery life (click on the link in the image below).<div><figure><div id="av-2021-11-22-delivery-app-game-AAQCN" style="max-width:100%" data-vars-category="embed" data-vars-sub-category="axios-visual" data-vars-asset-id="av-2021-11-22-delivery-app-game-AAQCN" class="gtmView"><img alt="Data: Los Deliveristas/Worker&#x27;s Justice Project and Cornell ILR&#x27;s Worker Institute; Graphic: Jacque Schrag/Axios; Illustrations: Maura Losch, Aïda Amer/Axios" class="axios-visual-newsletter-fallback-image" src="https://graphics.axios.com/2021-11-22-delivery-app-game/fallbacks/2021-11-22-delivery-app-game-fallback.png" width="1200" height="578"/><img alt="Data: Los Deliveristas/Worker&#x27;s Justice Project and Cornell ILR&#x27;s Worker Institute; Graphic: Jacque Schrag/Axios; Illustrations: Maura Losch, Aïda Amer/Axios" class="axios-visual-apple-fallback-image" src="https://graphics.axios.com/2021-11-22-delivery-app-game/fallbacks/2021-11-22-delivery-app-game-apple.png" width="750" height="738"/></div><figcaption>Data: Los Deliveristas/Worker&#x27;s Justice Project and Cornell ILR&#x27;s Worker Institute; Graphic: Jacque Schrag/Axios; Illustrations: Maura Losch, Aïda Amer/Axios</figcaption></figure></div>

Illustration:  Allie Carl and Brendan Lynch/Axios

Don't be surprised if you cross paths with a robot the next time you go food shopping or out to eat. 

Automation is moving into several aspects of the food industry, from farm to table.

Why it matters: With worker shortages, robots may be able to fill open jobs in some places, like wineries.

5. Eating out will mean robot encounters

Don't be surprised as automation is moving into the food industry, from farm to table.

Illustration of a collage of robots picking fruit, flipping burgers, waiting tables and patrolling supermarkets.

Don&#x27;t be surprised if you cross paths with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a robot" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2021/09/30/sawatdee-minneapolis-robot-server-deedee" data-vars-content-id="fbd6e0cd-6d3a-4cbd-b417-aa67bd3907f9" data-vars-headline="Eating out will mean robot encounters" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2021/09/30/sawatdee-minneapolis-robot-server-deedee" target="_self">a robot</a> the next time you go food shopping or out to eat. <ul><li>Automation is moving into several aspects of the food industry, from farm to table.</li></ul>Why it matters: With worker shortages, robots may be able to fill open jobs in some places, like <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="wineries" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/labor-shortage-pushes-winemakers-to-automation-20ad99d7-5110-439a-9bd2-33ff79f9ebbb.html?utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=editorial&amp;utm_content=technology-automation" data-vars-content-id="fbd6e0cd-6d3a-4cbd-b417-aa67bd3907f9" data-vars-headline="Eating out will mean robot encounters" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/labor-shortage-pushes-winemakers-to-automation-20ad99d7-5110-439a-9bd2-33ff79f9ebbb.html?utm_source=twitter&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_campaign=editorial&amp;utm_content=technology-automation" target="_self">wineries</a>.

Data: Poore and Nemecek (2018), FDA, UN's IPCC. Note: Dairy cattle is beef from dairy cattle. Chart: Shoshana Gordon and Thomas Oide/Axios

Climate change is ratcheting up pressure to alter how we grow and consume food,

Threat level: Our food chain generates a large chunk of greenhouse gas emissions annually, mainly from animal products, climate scientists point out.

Details: The UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says 21%–37% of global GHG emissions may come from food, while a study by Joseph Poore of the University of Oxford points out that food from beef cattle has the largest carbon footprint per typical serving.

America alone — with more than 330 million people — may consume over 100 kilograms of meat products per capita in 2021, the OECD estimates.

Plus, there's growing concern that emissions calculations such as these may be vastly underestimated.

Between the lines: While what we eat may affect global warming, climate change itself has an impact on food systems. 

It can cause droughts or floods and alter the nutrition of particular crops, making for a more unstable food supply that's vulnerable to price spikes and shortages.

6. Your burger is heating Earth

The food supply chain generates 21%–37% of greenhouse gas emissions annually, a report says.

Climate change

Climate change is ratcheting up pressure to alter how we grow and consume food,Threat level: Our food chain generates a large chunk of greenhouse gas emissions annually, mainly from animal products, climate scientists point out.

Ominous forecasts about the impact of climate change serve as the backdrop for the world — led by U.S. lawmakers and companies — to debate big action on the problem, which could upend energy systems and our way of life.

Energy & Environment

Most popular orders. Data: Uber Eats; Graphic: Annelise Capossela, Allie Carl and Will Chase/Axios

French fries and pad thai may be the most popular food deliveries over the past 12 months.

But, are you craving prosciutto with a side of pickles? How about watermelon with a squeeze of mustard? 

Those are some of the crazy combos in the Uber Eats 2021 Cravings Report, Axios' Annelise Capossela, Will Chase and Allie Carl write.

7. What we're craving during the pandemic

Prosciutto with a side of pickles and watermelon with a squeeze of mustard are two top unusual combos, per an Uber Eats report.

Illustrations of the top 10 most ordered foods in 2021: French fries, Pad Thai, Garlic naan, Soda, Miso soup, California roll, Chiken tikka masala, Edamame, Mozzarella sticks, Spicy tuna roll

French fries and pad thai may be the most popular food deliveries over the past 12 months.<ul><li>But, are you craving prosciutto with a side of pickles? How about watermelon with a squeeze of mustard? </li><li>Those are some of the crazy combos in the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Uber Eats 2021 Cravings Report" data-vars-click-url="https://www.uber.com/newsroom/the-2021-uber-eats-cravings-report/" data-vars-content-id="81e0a1a5-5a01-498d-baf0-3e70efc30544" data-vars-headline="What we&#x27;re craving during the pandemic" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.uber.com/newsroom/the-2021-uber-eats-cravings-report/" target="_blank">Uber Eats 2021 Cravings Report</a>, Axios&#x27; Annelise Capossela, Will Chase and Allie Carl write.</li></ul>

A food revolution began pre-pandemic and COVID has only accelerated that. See how America's food industry is transforming, from farm to your table.

Visualizing how the pandemic accelerated the food revolution.

Illustration of a fork holding a pie chart 