The COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath reshaped many aspects of life in the U.S., and how Americans eat and drink is no exception.
Disruptions in the initial months of COVID-19 forced food producers and distributors to adapt how food gets to consumers, and ongoing challenges with supply chains and the labor market have led to shortages at grocery stores. In the restaurant business, many restaurants have reoriented their businesses toward takeout and delivery, with the market for food delivery in the U.S. more than doubling during the pandemic.
The latter trend came in response to major disruption to the food service industry from lockdowns and public health measures early in the pandemic. Bars and restaurants were among the businesses hit hardest by these policies. Unable to host patrons at full capacity, establishments drastically reduced their staffing and turned to takeout and delivery to continue operating while keeping costs low. Employment in the sector fell by nearly half in just two months, from 12.4 million in February 2020 to 6.4 million in April 2020. Even after public health restrictions loosened later in 2020, employment in the sector has been slow to recover. Today, the food and drink services industry employs 11.6 million people, still short of its pre-pandemic peaks.
While the COVID lockdowns of 2020 provided an initial shock to the industry, shifting consumer preferences have also been a challenge for food service professionals. Bars and restaurants reopened over the course of 2020, but not all consumers rushed back. As fears around COVID persisted, many consumers have opted to spend more of their food budget on groceries for meals at home. This reality quickly reversed trends in food spending over recent years. In 2020, spending on groceries as a share of total household spending reached its highest in two decades, while spending on purchased meals and beverages fell to their lowest levels since the Great Recession.
Time will tell how lasting changes in spending on food will be, especially in light of the high levels of inflation seen over the last year. While since the turn of the century, prices for food consumed at home grew more slowly than those for food consumed outside of the home, the opposite is true since the start of the pandemic. Since 2020, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for food at home has risen by 18.2%, while the CPI for food away from home has grown by just 13.5% over the same span. The rate of price growth for food at home has been particularly stark after remaining roughly flat from 2014 to 2020. Though households in the pandemic have been more inclined to choose groceries over meals out, rapidly rising food prices have stretched household budgets as a result.
Inflation in the cost of food has been felt nationwide, but residents in some locations will feel the effects more than others. In states with lower incomes, especially in the South, residents spend a higher share of their overall household spend on food. Whether buying groceries or dining out, residents in these locations already struggle the most with food costs and will disproportionately feel the effects of inflation.
To determine the states where residents are spending the most on food, researchers on behalf of Self Financial used data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis to calculate all food and beverage spending as a share of total spending. In the event of a tie, the state with the greater grocery spending as a share of total spending was ranked higher.
The analysis found that—on average—residents of Colorado spend $6,051 per year on food and beverages, which amounts to 12.7% of all spending. Among residents of all states, Colorado residents spend the 17th most on food. Here is a summary of the data for Colorado:
- All food and beverage spending as a share of total spending: 12.7%
- Grocery spending as a share of total spending: 7.0%
- Purchased meals and beverages spending as a share of total spending: 5.7%
- Food and beverage spending per resident: $6,051
- Total spending per resident: $47,649
For reference, here are the statistics for the entire United States:
- All food and beverage spending as a share of total spending: 12.0%
- Grocery spending as a share of total spending: 7.0%
- Purchased meals and beverages spending as a share of total spending: 5.0%
- Food and beverage spending per resident: $5,153
- Total spending per resident: $43,016
For more information, a detailed methodology, and complete results, you can find the original report on Self Financial’s website: https://www.self.inc/blog/states-spending-most-on-food
Category: Health & Food Recalls
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Colorado Residents Spend the 17th Most on Food
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CDPHE to add 270 hospitalizations to data dashboard due to reporting lapse
STATEWIDE (July 15, 2022) — CDPHE will add 270 previously unreported hospitalizations dated between late March of this year and today to the state’s cumulative total on the data dashboard as part of this afternoon’s regular 4 p.m. data update. This update is a result of Intermountain Healthcare (formerly SCL Health) failing to report hospitalization data to the COVID Patient Hospitalization Surveillance System (COPHS) since late March. The delay in reporting these hospitalizations over the course of recent months did not affect CDPHE’s COVID-19 surveillance abilities or public health recommendations, as we use multiple metrics to understand COVID-19 transmission in the state.This data update will also affect the graphs on the “reason for admission” tab of CDPHE’s patient-level hospital data webpage. This large health care system’s lapse in reporting occurred prior to CDPHE’s update to our COVID-19 hospitalization reporting in May, so their data has not been included in these graphs. Additional data related to “reason for admission” from the system’s admissions since May 2020 will be added to that page, providing more detailed information about 10,149 hospitalizations from that system. Because this health care system had been reporting hospitalization data before the lapse in late March 2022, CDPHE was aware of all of these hospitalizations except the 270 previously unreported hospitalizations and had previously included them in the state’s published cumulative hospitalization count on the data dashboard.We receive information about hospitalizations through multiple data systems and integrate many different metrics to best understand the COVID-19 landscape in Colorado at any time — the information entered into the COVID Patient Hospitalization Surveillance System simply provides more detailed demographic information and details about the hospitalization. The reporting delay does not impact CDPHE’s understanding of current COVID-19 trends or change current public health recommendations.CDPHE continually checks data for quality and completeness and strives to be transparent in any necessary adjustments.###Para publicación inmediataCONTACTO:COVID-19 MEDIA LINE: 303-900-2849 (Por favor deje un mensaje)El CDPHE añadirá 270 hospitalizaciones a su tablero de datos debido a una omisión en el sistema de reporteCOLORADO (15 de julio de 2022) — Como parte de su actualización habitual de esta tarde a las 4 p.m. el CDPHE agregará 270 hospitalizaciones ocurridas entre finales de marzo de este año y el día de hoy, no reportadas previamente, al total acumulado del Estado en su tablero de datos. Esta actualización se debe a que Intermountain Healthcare (anteriormente conocido como SCL Health) no ha informado desde finales de marzo los datos de hospitalización al Sistema de Monitoreo de Hospitalización de Pacientes (COPHS, por sus siglas en inglés). Importa señalar que el retraso en la notificación de estas hospitalizaciones durante los últimos meses no afectó el monitoreo del COVID-19 por parte del CDPHE ni las recomendaciones sobre salud pública, ya que utilizamos múltiples parámetros para analizar la transmisión de COVID-19 en Colorado.Esta actualización de datos afectará asimismo los gráficos de la pestaña “reason for admission” (motivo de ingreso al establecimiento hospitalario) que figura en la página web del CDPHE sobre datos hospitalarios respecto a pacientes. El lapso en el informe de este importante sistema de salud se produjo antes de la actualización de CDPHE de nuestros reportes de hospitalización por COVID-19 del mes de mayo, por lo que sus datos no se han incluido en estos gráficos. Los datos adicionales relacionados con el “motivo de ingreso” por parte del sistema de admisiones, recopilados desde mayo de 2020, se añadirán a esa página y brindarán información más detallada sobre 10,149 hospitalizaciones de ese sistema. Dado que este sistema de atención médica había estado informando los datos de hospitalización antes del lapso de omisión de reportes a fines de marzo de 2022, el CDPHE estaba al tanto de todas estas hospitalizaciones —excepto las 270 hospitalizaciones que no fueron notificadas antes—, y las había incluido previamente en el recuento acumulativo de hospitalizaciones en el Estado publicado en el tablero de datos.Cabe explicar que recibimos información sobre las hospitalizaciones a través de múltiples sistemas de datos e integramos muchos parámetros diferentes para visualizar mejor la situación del COVID-19 en Colorado en cualquier momento determinado. La información introducida en el COPHS simplemente brinda información demográfica más detallada y datos sobre la hospitalización. Esta demora en la presentación de informes no afecta nuestra comprensión de lo que sucede con las tendencias actuales del virus ni modifica las recomendaciones actuales sobre salud pública.El CDPHE verifica sin cesar la calidad e integralidad de sus datos y se esfuerza por ser transparente respecto a las correcciones necesarias. -
CDPHE extends and terminates public health orders
New Board of Health regulation eliminates need for PHO 20-33 regarding COVID-19 test reportingSTATEWIDE (July 15, 2022) — Today the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment terminated Amended Public Health Order 20-33 and extended Public Health Order 20-38. PHO 20-33 addressed the reporting of data of people who tested for COVID-19 for the purpose of compiling a complete dataset to better understand the prevalence of COVID-19 in Colorado. The state Board of Health passed regulations at 6 CCR 1009-1, that require the reporting of COVID-19 tests in the circumstances that require continued reporting; thus, this PHO is no longer necessary. This change will not impact the percent positivity data that CDPHE creates and shares.CDPHE also released the 19th Amended Public Health Order 20-38, extending the order another month through 12:01 a.m. on August 14, 2022. This public health order requires people to wear masks in certain settings and situations. The amended order expressly allows for an exemption to mask wearing when a healthcare provider deems it necessary for a provider or patient to remove their mask to effectively receive a service. -
On National HIV Testing Day, Coloradans encouraged to use free testing services, know their status
DENVER, June 27, 2022 – In honor of National HIV Testing Day, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment encourages Coloradans to use the array of free testing services available to know their status and get linked to care and treatment.
First observed on June 27, 1995, the theme of today’s National HIV Testing Day — “HIV Testing Is Self-Care” — serves as a reminder for sexually active Coloradans that knowledge of status is a critical step toward protecting their sexual health and engaging in prevention or treatment services.
“We want to encourage Coloradans, especially those who have delayed care due to the pandemic, to take advantage of the many free HIV testing services available statewide,” said Jill Hunsaker Ryan, executive director of CDPHE. “Getting tested has never been easier and is one of the most important things you can do to protect your sexual health.”
CDPHE offers a number of resources for individuals seeking testing services, including free at-home testing kits for HIV and STIs like chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis. For more information about HIV and STI prevention, visit our website at cdphe.colorado.gov/sti-hiv.
In addition to these resources, Walgreens and Greater Than AIDS, a public information initiative of the Kaiser Family Foundation, have partnered with health departments across the country to offer free testing services today. Check out the list of participating Walgreens stores near you. Additional clinics and testing sites can be found by visiting Locator.HIV.gov.
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Public health officials have identified a presumptive monkeypox case, awaiting CDC confirmation: Risk to public remains low
STATEWIDE (May 26, 2022) — The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Public Health Laboratory has confirmed a presumptive monkeypox case and is awaiting CDC confirmation. The person who acquired the virus recently traveled to Canada where an outbreak of monkeypox is occurring and is cooperating with state and local public health epidemiologists who are investigating and notifying people who may have been exposed. There are currently no other presumptive positive monkeypox cases in Colorado.The risk to the public continues to be low. While anyone who has been in close contact with a confirmed or suspected monkeypox case can acquire monkeypox, people who have recently traveled to a country where monkeypox has been reported, or men who have sex with other men, are currently at a higher risk for monkeypox exposure.The presumptive case is a young adult male who sought care in the Denver area, and is a man who has sex with men. He is now isolating at home with his condition improving. Coloradans should be aware of monkeypox symptoms and prevention. Monkeypox often begins with fever, headache, muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes, and exhaustion. Typically a rash develops within one to three days after the onset of fever, often beginning on the face and spreading to other parts of the body. In recent cases, the rash often starts in the genital or perianal area. The associated monkeypox rash can look similar to other infections like syphilis or herpes. The incubation period for monkeypox is usually seven to 14 days, but can range from less than five to 21 days. Most people recover within two to four weeks. Coloradans can help prevent the spread of monkeypox by avoiding close physical contact with individuals who have acquired monkeypox, wearing a high-quality mask if they will be spending time in close contact with someone experiencing symptoms of monkeypox, and contacting a health care provider as soon as possible if they experience symptoms.“We want to reassure Coloradans that the risk to the public is low, but we also want them to know of the symptoms so that we can catch other cases as soon as possible,” said Dr. Rachel Herlihy, state epidemiologist, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. “We are grateful for the collaborative efforts of the CDC, local public health agencies, and health care providers in learning about, treating, and investigating this case.”Two vaccines are available for the prevention of monkeypox, and Colorado is requesting vaccines from the federal government. The vaccines can be used to prevent infection or decrease the severity of infection among those who have had a high-risk exposure. An example of a high-risk exposure would be unprotected contact between a person’s skin or mucous membranes and the skin, lesions, or bodily fluids from a person known to have active monkeypox virus in their body. The determination of risk and the need for vaccination following an exposure is made by a medical provider with consultation from public health.Monkeypox outbreaks are currently occurring in Canada, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Spain, and other European countries. Monkeypox is rare in the United States, but has happened in people with international travel or people who had contact with animals from areas where the disease is more common. In 2021, there were two monkeypox cases in the United States associated with international travel, and there was a monkeypox outbreak in six states involving 47 cases associated with contact with infected animals that had contact with small mammals from Ghana in 2003. Neither of these outbreaks included cases in Colorado.In parts of the world where human cases of monkeypox more commonly occur, people are typically exposed through bites or scratches from infected rodents and small mammals, preparing wild game, or having contact with an infected animal or possibly animal products. Monkeypox does not happen regularly in animals that live in the United States. The virus can also spread from human to human through large respiratory droplets, but this likely requires prolonged face-to-face contact. Other human-to-human ways of spreading the virus include direct contact with body fluids or broken lesions, and through contaminated clothing or linens. There are two known types of monkeypox. -
CDPHE to release a batch of past cases from the winter omicron surge
STATEWIDE (May 12, 2022) — Last month, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment changed its method of reporting past cases to make it easier for third parties to accurately calculate and display Colorado’s current COVID-19 case rates. As part of this change, CDPHE announced it would release cases with report dates more than 30 days old in batches every two weeks. The department’s regular 4 p.m. data update on Thursday, May 12, 2022, will include a batch of previous cases, adding 7,810 cases to the state’s cumulative count with report dates from the winter omicron surge.This reporting method ensures that only recent cases are added to the state’s cumulative case count daily. The state made this change in response to Colorado residents expressing continued frustration and confusion when comparing local reports with national ones, even though the source data is the same. CDPHE strongly recommends third parties who use cumulative case counts to calculate Colorado’s COVID-19 case rates exclude Thursday, May 12, 2022 from their calculations for moving averages. The majority of cases CDPHE will add to Colorado’s cumulative case count on Thursday, May 12 are not new cases and do not reflect an increase in transmission in Colorado.In order to share the most accurate case data possible, CDPHE updates all COVID-19 case data, past and present, from the state’s reportable disease registry. CDPHE recommends that the best practice for analyzing COVID-19 case data over time is to pull updated data for Colorado’s full time series. Updated time series are published on CDPHE’s Open Data Portal.“We made this change in reporting last month to help third parties more accurately report Colorado’s current COVID-19 data,” said Dr. Rachel Herlihy, State Epidemiologist. “We are hopeful that this communication regarding our bi-weekly release of cases from the winter omicron surge will provide an opportunity to see how these batches are released and presented on Colorado’s COVID-19 data dashboard. Third parties can exclude these bi-weekly batches of past cases to give people the most accurate information about the current state of COVID-19 in Colorado.”The most accurate source for Colorado data related to the pandemic remains CDPHE’s dashboard located at covid19.colorado.gov/data. -
CDPHE extends Public Health Order 20-38
STATEWIDE (April 14, 2022) — The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment released the 15th Amended Public Health Order 20-38, extending the order for four weeks through May 13, 2022.This updated public health order continues to require:
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Face coverings in some settings based on CDC Community Levels and, in some instances, vaccination status.
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Hospital data reporting.
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COVID-19 vaccination for state contractors working in residential care settings.
The public health order is effective until May 13, 2022 unless extended, rescinded, superseded, or amended in writing.——————-Para publicación inmediata
CONTACTO:
COVID-19 MEDIA LINE: 303-900-2849 (Por favor deje un mensaje)
Email:El CDPHE extiende la vigencia de la Orden de Salud Pública 20-38COLORADO (14 de abril de 2022) — El Departamento de Salud Pública y Medio Ambiente de Colorado publicó la15ª Orden de Salud Pública (PHO) corregida 20-38, por la cual extiende la orden por cuatro semanas hasta el 13 de mayo de 2022.La presente actualización de la Orden de Salud Pública sigue exigiendo:
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El uso del cubrebocas en ciertos entornos sobre la base de las recomendaciones de los Centros para el Control de Enfermedades(CDC Community Levels), así como, en ciertos casos, el estado de vacunación.
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Reportes de datos hospitalarios.
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Vacunación contra el COVID-19 de contratistas del Estado en establecimientos de cuidados residenciales.
La Orden de Salud Pública tendrá vigencia hasta el 13 de mayo de 2022, a menos que sea extendida, rescindida, sustituida o modificada por escrito.
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Health and Safety Advisory Update: Marijuana
The Colorado Department of Revenue’s Marijuana Enforcement Division issued a Health and Safety Advisory due to the identification of potentially unsafe levels of elemental impurities (lead) on Pre-Rolled Retail Marijuana produced by JEM Dutch Acres, LLC (DBA Earls).All issued Health and Safety Advisories can be found on the MED’s HSA webpage.Sincerely,The Marijuana Enforcement Division -
State health officials recommend families check powdered infant formula
Recall issued for Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare powdered infant formulas
REMOTE, Feb. 18, 2022 – The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is advising parents who purchased Similac, Alimentum, or EleCare powdered infant formulas to check these products to ensure they are not part of a recent voluntary recall.
The FDA, along with CDC, is investigating four consumer complaints outside of Colorado of infant illness. The cases are related to products from Abbott Nutrition’s Sturgis, Michigan facility received from Sept. 20 2021 – Jan. 11, 2022. All of the cases are reported to have consumed powdered infant formula produced at this facility. These complaints include three reports of Cronobacter sakazakii infections and one report of Salmonella Newport infection in infants. No reported cases are in Colorado.
Cronobacter is a bacterium that can cause severe foodborne illness primarily in infants. Cronobacter infections are rare, but are especially high risk for newborns. Cronobacter bacteria can cause severe, life-threatening infections (sepsis) or meningitis (an inflammation of the membranes that protect the brain and spine). Symptoms of sepsis and meningitis may include poor feeding, irritability, temperature changes, jaundice (yellow skin and whites of the eyes), grunting breaths, and abnormal movements.
On Feb. 17, Abbott Nutrition initiated a voluntary recall of certain powdered infant formulas, which are sold nationwide. Recalled products can be identified by the 7 to 9 digit code and expiration date on the bottom of the package (see image here). Products are included in the recall if:
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The first two digits of the code are 22 through 37, and
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The code on the container contains K8, SH, or Z2, and
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The expiration date is 4-1-2022 (APR 2022) or later.
Recalled product that meets all three of the listed criteria should be disposed of or returned to the store where it was purchased.
If your child consumed recalled formula, monitor them for symptoms and seek medical care if they develop symptoms. Healthy infants do not need medical treatment or there is not a traditional screening test for Cronobacter.
If your child is experiencing any of these symptoms, you should notify your child’s health care provider and seek medical care for your child immediately.
The recall does not include liquid formula products or any metabolic deficiency nutrition formulas. Consumers should continue to use all product not included in the recall. Additional recall information is available on the FDA website. Parents can also enter their product lot code on the company’s website to check if it is part of the recall.
More information on Cronobacter and infant formula is available on CDC’s website.
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State adds percentage of residents vaccinated by county to vaccine data dashboard
Today, the state updated its COVID-19 vaccine data dashboard to reflect the percentage of residents at least partially vaccinated or fully vaccinated by county. This new data supplements current county level data regarding doses distributed and doses administered to provide a more comprehensive snapshot of vaccination progress by county.
The two new data tabs and their definitions are:
1+ Vaccination Rate: the percentage of people who have received at least one dose of any COVID-19 vaccine. This includes people who have received at least one dose of Pfizer, Moderna, or Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine. If an individual has received more than one dose, they will also be counted in the Up-to-Date Vaccination Rate. This data is based on the immunized person’s county of residence as listed in the Colorado Immunization Information System (CIIS).
Up-to-Date Vaccination Rate: the percentage of people who have received at least two doses of either Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or who have received at least one dose of Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine. Any individual with a second dose administered on a different day than the initial dose will be counted as receiving two doses. These individuals are also counted in the 1+ Vaccination Rate data. This data is based on the immunized person’s county of residence as listed in the Colorado Immunization Information System (CIIS).
Continue to stay up to date by visiting covid19.colorado.gov.
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