Does food retail access moderate the impact of fruit and vegetable incentives for SNAP participants? Evidence from western Massachusetts

Within a context of public policy debate in the United Kingdom on social exclusion, health inequalities, and food poverty, the metaphor of the ‘food desert’ caught the imagination of those involved in policy development. Drawing from a major cross-disciplinary investigation of food access and food poverty in British cities, the authors report in this paper findings from the first ‘before/after’ study of food consumption in a highly deprived area of a British city experiencing a sudden and significant change in its food-retail access. The study has been viewed as the first opportunity in the United Kingdom to assess the impact of a non-healthcare intervention (specifically a retail-provision intervention) on food-consumption patterns, and by extension diet-related health, in such a deprived, previously poor-retail-access community. The paper offers evidence of a positive but modest impact of the retail intervention on diet, and the authors discuss the ways in which their findings are potentially significant in the context of policy debate.

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The impact of a multilevel childhood obesity prevention intervention on healthful food acquisition, preparation, and fruit and vegetable consumption on African-American adult caregivers

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980018003038 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 1-16 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Angela CB Trude ◽

Pamela J Surkan ◽

Elizabeth Anderson Steeves ◽

Keshia Pollack Porter ◽

Joel Gittelsohn

Keyword(s):

Social Media ◽

Low Income ◽

Vegetable Consumption ◽

Family Members ◽

Fruit Intake ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

Food Acquisition ◽

Multilevel Studies ◽

Adult Caregivers ◽

The Impact

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the secondary impact of a multilevel, child-focused, obesity intervention on food-related behaviours (acquisition, preparation, fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption) on youths’ primary caregivers.DesignB’More Healthy Communities for Kids (BHCK) group-randomized controlled trial promoted access to healthy foods and food-related behaviours through wholesaler and small store strategies, peer mentor-led nutrition education aimed at youths, and social media and text messaging targeting their adult caregivers. Measures included caregivers’ (n516) self-reported household food acquisition frequency for FV, snacks and grocery items over 30 d, and usual FV consumption in a sub-sample of 226 caregivers via the NCI FV Screener. Hierarchical models assessed average treatment effects (ATE). Treatment-on-the-treated-effect (TTE) analyses evaluated correlation between behavioural change and exposure to BHCK. Exposure scores at post-assessment were based on self-reported viewing of BHCK materials and participating in activities.SettingThirty Baltimore City low-income neighbourhoods, USA.ParticipantsAdult caregivers of youths aged 9–15 years.ResultsOf caregivers, 90·89 % were female; mean age 39·31 (sd9·31) years. Baseline mean (sd) intake (servings/d) was 1·30 (1·69) fruits and 1·35 (1·05) vegetables. In ATE, no significant intervention effect was found on caregivers’ food-related behaviours. In TTE, each point increase in BHCK exposure score (range: 0–6·9) increased caregivers’ daily fruit consumption by 0·2 servings (0·24 (se0·11); 95 % CI 0·04, 0·47). Caregivers reporting greater social media exposure tripled their daily fruit intake (3·16 (se0·92); 95 % CI 1·33, 4·99) and increased their frequency of unhealthy food purchasingv. baseline.ConclusionsChild-focused community-based nutrition interventions may also benefit family members’ fruit intake. Child-focused interventions should involve adult caregivers and intervention effects on family members should be assessed. Future multilevel studies should consider using social media to improve reach and engage caregiver participants.

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Perceptions of Food Retailers Regarding Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Emissions

GATR Journal of Business and Economics Review ◽

10.35609/jber.2021.5.4(3) ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (4) ◽

pp. 26-35

Author(s):

Ayanda Pamella Deliwe ◽

Shelley Beryl Beck ◽

Elroy Eugene Smith

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽

Greenhouse Gas ◽

Greenhouse Gas Emission ◽

Harmful Effect ◽

Retail Sector ◽

Food Retail ◽

Gas Emissions ◽

Food Retailers ◽

The Impact

Objective – This paper sets out to assess perceptions of food retailers regarding climate change, greenhouse gas emission and sustainability in the Nelson Mandela Bay region of South Africa. The primary objective of this study is to investigate the food retailers’ greenhouse gas emissions strategies. Climate change catastrophic potential and the harmful effect that it has had on the community and businesses has led to it being given attention from social media and in literature. Methodology/Technique – This paper covered a literature review that provided the theoretical framework. The empirical study that was carried out included self-administered questionnaires which were distributed to 120 food retailers who were selected from the population using convenience sampling. Findings - The results revealed that most of the respondents were neutral towards the impact of operational factors regarding GHG emission in the food retail sector. Novelty - There is limited research that has been conducted among food retailers from the designated population. The study provided guidelines that will be of assistance to food retailers when dealing with climate change and greenhouse gas emissions impact in the food retail sector. Type of Paper: Empirical. JEL Classification: L66, Q54, Q59. Keywords: Climate Change; Food Retailers; Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Perceptions; Strategies; Sustainability Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Deliwe, A.P; Beck, S.B; Smith, E.E. (2021). Perceptions of Food Retailers Regarding Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Journal of Business and Economics Review, 5(4) 26–35. https://doi.org/10.35609/jber.2021.5.4(3)

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A bibliometric analysis of greenwashing research: a closer look at agriculture, food industry and food retail

British Food Journal ◽

10.1108/bfj-06-2021-0708 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 123 (13) ◽

pp. 547-560

Author(s):

Antonio Montero-Navarro ◽

Thais González-Torres ◽

José-Luis Rodríguez-Sánchez ◽

Rocio Gallego-Losada

Keyword(s):

Bibliometric Analysis ◽

Food Industry ◽

The Body ◽

Intellectual Structure ◽

Food Retail ◽

Content Type ◽

Academic Literature ◽

Body Of Knowledge ◽

Major Development ◽

The Impact

PurposeThis paper aims at providing an overview and synthesis of the existing body of knowledge about greenwashing. Special attention is paid to the articles directly linked with agriculture, food industry and food retail.Design/methodology/approachA bibliometric analysis was performed over 351 documents extracted from the WoS database, using SciMAT and VOSviewer software programs.FindingsThree periods in the academic literature about greenwashing can be distinguished: ground-setting (2003–2010), trail-blazing (2011–2015) and remarkable growth (2016–2020). Along this evolution, a body of knowledge which stemmed from the literature about CSR has achieved a major development, deploying different research lines such as stakeholders' management, marketing and communication and audit. A specific analysis of the academic literature about greenwashing in agriculture, food industry and food retail has been carried out, showing a need for further development.Social implicationsThe development of scientific knowledge about greenwashing puts this social claim on the spotlight of business management studies, helping to fight greenwashing and, this way, to reduce the environmental impact of corporate activities. Studying greenwashing will help to reduce its frequency and, therefore, heal the planet.Originality/valueSome previous studies have provided systematic reviews of the literature using different approaches, but they did not untangle the intellectual structure and the evolution of the body of research about greenwashing. This article originally provides a thorough analysis of these aspects, as well as a closer look at the impact of greenwashing practices in the academic literature regarding agriculture, food industry and food retail.

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Impacts of fast food and the food retail environment on overweight and obesity in China: a multilevel latent class cluster approach

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980011002047 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 88-96 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Xiaoyong Zhang ◽

Ivo van der Lans ◽

Hans Dagevos

Keyword(s):

Fast Food ◽

Latent Class ◽

Overweight And Obesity ◽

Community Level ◽

Valuable Insight ◽

Food Retail ◽

Retail Environment ◽

Dietary Knowledge ◽

Food Retail Environment ◽

The Impact

AbstractObjectiveTo simultaneously identify consumer segments based on individual-level consumption and community-level food retail environment data and to investigate whether the segments are associated with BMI and dietary knowledge in China.DesignA multilevel latent class cluster model was applied to identify consumer segments based not only on their individual preferences for fast food, salty snack foods, and soft drinks and sugared fruit drinks, but also on the food retail environment at the community level.SettingThe data came from the China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) conducted in 2006 and two questionnaires for adults and communities were used.SubjectsA total sample of 9788 adults living in 218 communities participated in the CHNS.ResultsWe successfully identified four consumer segments. These four segments were embedded in two types of food retail environment: the saturated food retail environment and the deprived food retail environment. A three-factor solution was found for consumers’ dietary knowledge. The four consumer segments were highly associated with consumers’ dietary knowledge and a number of sociodemographic variables.ConclusionsThe widespread discussion about the relationships between fast-food consumption and overweight/obesity is irrelevant for Chinese segments that do not have access to fast food. Factors that are most associated with segments with a higher BMI are consumers’ (incorrect) dietary knowledge, the food retail environment and sociodemographics. The results provide valuable insight for policy interventions on reducing overweight/obesity in China. This study also indicates that despite the breathtaking changes in modern China, the impact of ‘obesogenic’ environments should not be assessed too strictly from a ‘Western’ perspective.

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The impact of diet and lifestyle on wellbeing during COVID-19-lockdown

10.31234/osf.io/erta5 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Anne Muth ◽

Annabel B Losecaat Vermeer ◽

Damiano Terenzi ◽

Soyoung Q Park

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Social Interactions ◽

Vegetable Intake ◽

Lifestyle Factors ◽

Activity Level ◽

Fruit And Vegetable Intake ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

The Impact ◽

Diet And Lifestyle

A healthy diet and lifestyle may protect against adverse mental health outcomes, which is especially crucial during stressful times, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This preregistered longitudinal online study explored whether diet and lifestyle (physical activity, sleep, and social interactions) could predict wellbeing and mood during a light lockdown in Germany. Participants (N = 117, 72 males; 28 9 years old) answered mental health and lifestyle questionnaires (social connections, sleep, activity) followed by submitting one week of food and mood-lifestyle diary (food intake, positive and negative mood, mental wellbeing, sleep quality, physical activity level, quantity and quality of social interactions) via a smartphone app. We used multivariate linear and mixed-effects models to predict mood and wellbeing by using dietary components and lifestyle factors. Inter-individual analyses revealed that sleep and social interaction significantly impacted mood and wellbeing. Interestingly, fruit and vegetable intake predicted wellbeing, even when controlling for all lifestyle factors. Fruit and vegetable intake also significantly predicted daily fluctuations in wellbeing within individuals next to sleep, physical activity, and social interactions. We observed gender differences in fruit and vegetable intake and anxiety levels. Our results emphasize the importance of diet contributing to individual wellbeing, even in the challenging times of a pandemic.

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Linking a sugar-sweetened beverage tax with fruit and vegetable subsidies: A simulation analysis of the impact on the poor

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition ◽

10.1093/ajcn/nqab330 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Pourya Valizadeh ◽

Barry M Popkin ◽

Shu Wen Ng

Keyword(s):

Low Income ◽

Simulation Analysis ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

Sugar Sweetened Beverage ◽

Subsidy Rate ◽

Sweetened Beverage ◽

Financial Gain ◽

Households With Children ◽

The Impact ◽

Low Income Households

Abstract Background US individuals, particularly from low-income subpopulations, have very poor diet quality. Policies encouraging shifts from consuming unhealthy food towards healthy food consumption are needed. Objectives We simulate the differential impacts of a national sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) tax and its combination with fruit and vegetable (FV) subsidies targeted to low-income households, on SSB and FV purchases of lower and higher SSB purchasers. Design We considered a one-cent-per-ounce SSB tax and two FV subsidy rates of 30% and 50% and used longitudinal grocery purchase data for 79,044 urban/semiurban US households from 2010-2014 Nielsen Homescan. We used demand elasticities for lower and higher SSB purchasers, estimated via longitudinal quantile regression, to simulate policies’ differential effects. Results Higher-SSB purchasing households made larger reductions (per adult equivalent) in SSB purchases than lower SSB purchasers due to the tax (e.g., 4.4 oz/day at SSB purchase percentile 90 vs. 0.5 oz/day at percentile 25; p < 0.05). Our analyses by household income indicated low-income households would make larger reductions than higher-income households at all SSB purchase levels. Targeted FV subsidies induced similar, but nutritionally insignificant, increases in FV purchases of low-income households regardless of their SSB purchase levels. Subsidies, however, were effective in mitigating the tax burdens. All low-income households experienced a net financial gain when the tax was combined with a 50% FV subsidy, but net gains were smaller among higher SSB purchasers. Further, low-income households with children gained smaller net financial benefits than households without children and incurred net financial losses under a 30% subsidy rate. Conclusions SSB taxes can effectively reduce SSB consumption. FV subsidies would increase FV purchases, but nutritionally meaningful increases are limited due to low purchase levels pre-policy. Expanding taxes beyond SSBs, larger FV subsidies, or subsidies beyond FVs, particularly for low-income households with children, may be more effective.

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Impact of a Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program on Diet Quality and Cardio-Metabolic Risk Factors in Healthy Adults in a Worksite Setting: A Randomized Controlled Trial (OR16-07-19)

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzz051.or16-07-19 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

Beth Comerford ◽

Kimberly Doughty ◽

Valentine Njike ◽

Rockiy Ayettey ◽

Audra Weisel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Dietary Intake ◽

Nutrition Education ◽

Diet Quality ◽

Hemoglobin A1c ◽

Healthy Adults ◽

Grocery Store ◽

Control Group ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

The Impact

Abstract Objectives Community- and clinic-based fruit and vegetable “prescription” (FVRx) programs, which include nutrition education and subsidies to reduce the cost of fruits and vegetables have improved dietary intake and some clinical outcomes, such as hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and blood pressure. However, few if any studies have investigated the impact of an FVRx program in a worksite setting. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a worksite FVRx program on diet quality, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, blood lipid concentrations, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and blood pressure. Methods In the first of two planned cohorts, we randomized healthy adults employed at a community hospital in southern Connecticut to receive either the FVRx program for 10 weeks (n = 20) or standard worksite wellness offerings (n = 20). Each week, intervention participants received a 45-minute cooking and nutrition education session held during the workday and a voucher valuing $15–25, depending on household size, that could be redeemed for fruit and vegetable purchases at a local grocery store. Outcome measures were assessed at baseline and at the end of the intervention. Results Compared to the control group, participants in the FVRx group significantly increased their HEI-2010 score for vegetable intake (0.91 ± 1.41 vs. 0.02 ± 1.18, P < 0.05) and reduced their HE-2010 score for empty calories (−4.61 ± 4.82 vs. −0.75 ± 3.20, P < 0.01). There were no between-group differences in other HEI-2010 components, body composition, HbA1c blood lipids, or blood pressure. However, the FVRx group did improve their overall HEI-2010 score from baseline (7.85 ± 10.82, P < 0.05) whereas the control group did not (3.57 ± 9.51, P > 0.05). Conclusions In this interim analysis, we demonstrated potential benefits of a worksite FVRx program on intake of vegetables and empty calories. Changes in anthropometric or biochemical measures were not observed immediately post-intervention, but this may be due to enrollment of a low-risk population or length of time needed to influence those measures. That the intervention nevertheless improved dietary intake suggests that it may be valuable for prevention of diet-related disease in healthy adults. Funding Sources Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Prevention Research Centers Program grant.

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Analysis of Fruit and Vegetable Consumption by Children in School Canteens Depending on Selected Sociodemographic Factors

Medicina ◽

10.3390/medicina55070397 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 55 (7) ◽

pp. 397 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Łuszczki ◽

Sobek ◽

Bartosiewicz ◽

Baran ◽

Weres ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Eating Habits ◽

Vegetable Consumption ◽

Body Height ◽

Sociodemographic Factors ◽

Fruit And Vegetable Consumption ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

Bar Code ◽

School Canteen ◽

The Impact

Background and Objectives: Eating habits acquired or changed during childhood are likely to track into adulthood. Due to the fact that nutritional behaviours are not so strongly formed among children, it is easier to change and develop them in children than in adults. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of selected sociodemographic factors affecting fruit and vegetable consumption (i.e., age, parents’ body mass index, parents’ level education, duration of breastfeeding, child’s time spent in front of computer/television) among children in school canteens. Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of 106 participants (52 girls, 54 boys) aged 6–12. The frequency of consuming fruits and vegetables at a school canteen was assessed using bar code cards for two weeks. Body composition estimates were obtained using a foot-to-foot bioelectrical impedance analysis, body height was measured using a stadiometer Seca 213. The questionnaire contained questions about selected factors which can have an influence on fruit and vegetable consumption. In the study group, 13.2% of participants were overweight and 17.9% were obese. Results: Our results showed a statistically significant relationship between age and fruit and vegetable consumption, and it increased with age in both sexes. Conclusions: Bearing in mind the various conditions discussed when shaping the eating habits of pre-school- and early-school-aged children, the importance of proper nutritional education should be stressed both among children and parents.

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The impact on adolescents of a Transtheoretical Model-based programme on fruit and vegetable consumption

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s136898001900137x ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 22 (13) ◽

pp. 2500-2508 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Kamer Gur ◽

Saime Erol ◽

Hasibe Kadioglu ◽

Ayse Ergun ◽

Rukiye Boluktas

Keyword(s):

Stages Of Change ◽

Transtheoretical Model ◽

Vegetable Consumption ◽

Daily Basis ◽

Decisional Balance ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

Model Based ◽

Post Test ◽

The Impact

AbstractObjective:The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of a Transtheoretical Model-based programme titled ‘Fruit & Vegetable-Friendly’ on the fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption of adolescents.Design:A quasi-experimental study. The ‘Fruit & Vegetable-Friendly’, a multicomponent intervention based on the Transtheoretical Model, was completed in eight weeks. The data were collected one week before the intervention, one week after the completion of the intervention and six months after the post-test with an F&V intake questionnaire and the stages of change, processes of change (α = 0·91), situational self-efficacy (α = 0·91) and decisional balance (α = 0·90 for pros, α = 0·87 for cons) scales. Data were analysed with the Friedman, Wilcoxon and marginal homogeneity tests.Setting:A public secondary school in Istanbul, Turkey.Participants:Seven hundred and two adolescents.Results:The mean (sd) F&V intake of adolescents in the passive stages rose from the daily average at the time of the pre-test of 3·40 (1·79) portions to 5·45 (2·54) portions on the post-test and to 5·75 (2·70) portions on the follow-up test (P < 0·01). While the students in the passive stages represented 41·6 % of the participants prior to the programme, this rate fell to 23·7 % at the post-test and to 22·7 % at the follow-up. Students in the active stages first represented 58·5 % of the participants; this rate rose to 76·4 % at the post-test and to 77·2 % at the follow-up test.Conclusions:The programme was effective in increasing the amount of F&V the adolescents consumed on a daily basis.

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