What Food Do Americans Eat More of as COVID-19 Cases Increase?

S'mores, made by sandwiching chocolate and roasted marshmallows between crackers. Source=Pixabay

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] In the United States, the consumption of s'mores has increased in tandem with the rise in COVID-19 cases. S'mores are a dessert made by sandwiching chocolate and roasted marshmallows between crackers, and the name means "some more."

On the 4th (local time), Michelle Buck, CEO of Hershey, the largest chocolate manufacturer in the U.S., said in an interview with the U.S. economic media CNBC, "Since the COVID-19 outbreak, consumers have been seeking chocolate more when they want stability and normalcy."

In fact, demand for s'more ingredients increased each time the number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. peaked. Instead of going out, people roasted s'mores in their backyards, relieving stress from staying at home with sweet treats.

Buck said, "Regions with increasing cases showed up to a 50% increase in sales compared to areas without such increases," adding, "Last year, based on this, we predicted regional chocolate demand according to the spread status and established sales strategies."

This phenomenon was also observed in the United Kingdom. According to the British daily The Guardian, chocolate sales surged by 50 million pounds compared to the previous year. The Guardian stated, "Since the COVID-19 outbreak, more people have been purchasing chocolate to alleviate feelings of depression."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.