Beth Armstrong

Dr Beth Armstrong is a Researcher at the University of Sheffield's School of Geography and Planning, where she investigates critical intersections of food security, consumer behavior, and sustainable diets within the UK context. Her work is prominently featured in the Food Standards Agency's longitudinal Food and You 2 project, examining pandemic-era food system vulnerabilities and policy implications.

Her research program centers on food insecurity dynamics, particularly risk factors for severe food insecurity and food bank utilization patterns among vulnerable populations. She employs mixed-methods approaches to analyze food safety behaviors—especially among older adults—and explores how ethical information and country-of-origin labeling shape consumer perceptions. A significant strand examines sustainable diet adoption barriers, investigating how food security status influences choices toward healthier, environmentally conscious eating patterns using nationally representative survey data.

Analysis of her 2021-2025 publications reveals consistent thematic focus on crisis-responsive food systems, with methodological diversity spanning longitudinal mixed-methods studies, secondary dataset analysis, and digital citizen science applications. Key contributions include identifying demographic predictors of food insecurity, evaluating post-pandemic consumer risk perceptions, and developing behavior-change interventions for food waste reduction.

Scientific awards: No awards documented in source materials.

Advising and grants: No formal student advisees listed. Grant involvement includes the Citizens Food Waste Prevention Behaviour Change Grant (RAF 100-304), funding a university student food waste reduction app pilot. Her Food and You 2 contributions represent sustained collaboration with the UK Food Standards Agency across eight survey waves.