The current pandemic, coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), pushed some countries to adopt export prohibitions on medical devices, protective gear and foodstuffs. Since most of such restrictions would be contrary to WTO Members’ commitments under General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) Article XI, the question arises how to justify them. While most scholars concentrate on public health and general exceptions, i.e. GATT Article XX (b), we should not overlook the national security exception under GATT Article XXI. This article discusses the possibility to justify food export restrictions in light of GATT Article XXI (b)(iii) as interpreted by the Panel in the Russia-Traffic in Transit case. Given the flexibility of GATT Article XXI (b)(iii) terms and the larger deference awarded to WTO Members, it appears to be an attractive tool to justify certain export prohibitions in view of the global pandemic. In particular, this article will discuss whether food security can be framed as a national security interest, as well as whether COVID-19 can be considered an emergency in international relations under GATT Article XXI(b)(iii).