Comparisons of diet quality, food purchasing, andfood insufficiency in low income women participating and not participating in the food stamp program

The Federal Food Stamp Program is consistently under fire for failure to perform according to stated goals. This paper presents a brief overview of the program, and constructs a partial profile of the 1975 federal outlay for bonus stamp coupons. The analysis surveys food stamp benefits across states with the intent of determining whether or not these benefits appear to be reaching states with the greatest numbers of poor people. A cursory review of rural-urban allocations indicates a basic inequity which needs further consideration.The first food stamp program came about in May of 1939 and lasted for some four years until the war sharply increased demand for food supplies.The food stamp program as we know it today has its roots in an experimental plan set up by President John F. Kennedy in 1961. This plan was implemented in several pilot areas and was designed to clear the market of surplus food supplies and to raise nutritional food purchasing power of participating low-income families.

Download Full-text

Effectiveness of Participation in the Food Stamp Program On Nutrition Status of A Selected Group of Low Income Women

Journal of the American Dietetic Association ◽

10.1016/s0002-8223(95)00475-0 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 95 (9) ◽

pp. A34

Author(s):

P.G. Wolman ◽

S.F. Stallings ◽

S.L. Meacham ◽

C.G. Goodner

Keyword(s):

Low Income ◽

Food Stamp ◽

Nutrition Status ◽

Food Stamp Program ◽

Low Income Women

Download Full-text

Lifecourse, immigrant status and acculturation in food purchasing and preparation among low-income mothers

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980007334058 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 396-404 ◽

Cited By ~ 44

Author(s):

Tamara Dubowitz ◽

Dolores Acevedo-Garcia ◽

Judy Salkeld ◽

Ana Cristina Lindsay ◽

SV Subramanian ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Focus Groups ◽

Low Income ◽

Metropolitan Areas ◽

Food Preparation ◽

Immigrant Status ◽

Food Purchasing ◽

Study Results ◽

The Usa ◽

Low Income Women ◽

Access To Food

AbstractObjectivesThis study investigates how lifecourse, immigrant status and acculturation, and neighbourhood of residence influence food purchasing and preparation among low-income women with children, living in the USA. This research sought to understand physical and economic access to food, from both ‘individual’ and ‘community’ perspectives.DesignThis study used qualitative methodology (focus groups) to examine the mechanisms and pathways of food preparation and purchasing within the context of daily life activity for US- and foreign-born women, living in the USA. The study methodology analysed notes and verbatim transcripts, summarised recurring responses and identified new themes in the discussions.Setting and subjectsA total of 44 women were purposively sampled from two metropolitan areas in Massachusetts, USA, based on (1) neighbourhood of residence and (2) primary language spoken. All focus groups were conducted in community health centres and community centres co-located with offices of the special supplemental nutritional programme for Women, Infants, and Children.ResultsAnalysis of key response themes suggested that scarcity of food and physical access to food purchasing points did not influence food purchasing and preparation as much as (1) limited time for food shopping, cooking and family activities; and (2) challenges in transportation to stores and childcare. The study results demonstrated differing attitudes toward food acquisition and preparation between immigrant and US-born women and between women who lived in two metropolitan areas in the western and eastern regions of the state of Massachusetts, USA.ConclusionsThe findings illustrate ‘hidden’ constraints that need to be captured in measures of physical and economic access and availability of food. US policies and programmes that aim to improve access, availability and diet quality would benefit from considering the social context of food preparation and purchasing, and the residential environments of low-income women and families.

Download Full-text

Food Stamp Program Effects on Availability Of Food Nutrients for Low Income Families In the Southern Region of the United States

Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics ◽

10.1017/s0081305200015120 ◽

1979 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 113-120 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

W. Keith Scearce ◽

Robert B. Jensen

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Low Income ◽

The United States ◽

Southern Region ◽

Food Stamp ◽

Food Stamp Program ◽

Nutritional Improvement ◽

Program Effects ◽

Low Income Families ◽

Low Income Households

The food stamp program, as enacted into law in 1964, was intended to improve the diet of low income households, but whether the program resulted in a nutritional improvement remains a controversial question. Several studies have evaluated the nutritional impact of the food stamp program on participant households. In general, the study findings do not conclusively resolve the question of nutritional improvement for participant families. Studies of California families showed some nutritional improvements among food stamp recipients in comparison with nonrecipients [7, 8]. A study in Pennsylvania showed no nutritional improvements, except in temporary periods of cash shortage [9].

Download Full-text

Impact of Elimination of the Food Stamp Program's Purchase Requirement on Participants' Food Purchases

Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics ◽

10.1017/s0081305200015661 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 87-92 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Larry E. Salathe

Keyword(s):

Low Income ◽

Food Stamp ◽

Food Stamp Program ◽

Food Purchases ◽

Eligibility Requirements ◽

The Cost ◽

Stamp Act ◽

Low Income Households

The Food Stamp Act authorizes the distribution of food coupons (stamps) to households which meet certain income eligibility requirements. This legislation enables low-income households to buy more food of greater variety to improve their diet. In fiscal 1979, the cost of the Food Stamp Program amounted to $6.7 billion and the number of persons participating in the program averaged 18.9 million.

Download Full-text

Food Stamp Program Impact on Resource Use: Texas Compared with The U.S., Fiscal Year 1974

Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics ◽

10.1017/s0081305200013881 ◽

1977 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 81-87

Author(s):

Paul E. Nelson ◽

John Perrin

Keyword(s):

Low Income ◽

Resource Use ◽

Final Demand ◽

Food Stamp ◽

Fiscal Year ◽

Food Stamp Program ◽

Ceteris Paribus ◽

Expenditure Patterns ◽

Tax Payments ◽

The Impact

During fiscal year 1974 the National Food Stamp Program disbursed $2.7 billion in bonus stamps. Of this amount, Texas received about $208 million. These money injections will increase each economy's final demand, ceteris paribus.However, an increase in the final demand of low income households will result in a discernibly different pattern of resource allocation than would occur if it came from high income households: the larger the increase in final demand, the greater the impact on patterns of resource use. The amount of bonus stamps distributed has reached a point where impacts may be identifiable.The source of funds likewise affects such expenditure patterns and resulting resource use. For example, when funds for bonus stamps are raised by increasing taxes of the higher income households, their expenditure patterns will reflect their increased tax payments. In contrast, when funds are raised by sale of government securities, the immediate impact will be different, in part because individuals account for only about 16 percent of the ownership of all federal securities.

Download Full-text