scholarly journals Availability, quality and price of produce in low-income neighbourhood food stores in California raise equity issues

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (9) ◽  
pp. 1639-1648 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendi Gosliner ◽  
Daniel M Brown ◽  
Betty C Sun ◽  
Gail Woodward-Lopez ◽  
Patricia B Crawford
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Grocery Stores ◽  
Local Health ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Supplemental Nutrition ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Assistance Program ◽  
Food Stores ◽  
Convenience Stores ◽  
Nutrition Assistance

AbstractObjectiveTo assess produce availability, quality and price in a large sample of food stores in low-income neighbourhoods in California.DesignCross-sectional statewide survey.SettingBetween 2011 and 2015, local health departments assessed store type, WIC (Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children)/SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) participation, produce availability, quality and price of selected items in stores in low-income neighbourhoods. Secondary data provided reference chain supermarket produce prices matched by county and month.tTests and ANOVA examined differences by store type; regression models examined factors associated with price.SubjectsLarge grocery stores (n231), small markets (n621) and convenience stores (n622) in 225 neighbourhoods.ResultsProduce in most large groceries was rated high quality (97 % of fruits, 98 % of vegetables), but not in convenience stores (25 % fruits, 14 % vegetables). Small markets and convenience stores participating in WIC and/or SNAP had better produce availability, variety and quality than non-participating stores. Produce prices across store types were, on average, higher than reference prices from matched chain supermarkets (27 % higher in large groceries, 37 % higher in small markets, 102 % higher in convenience stores). Price was significantly inversely associated with produce variety, adjusting for quality, store type, and SNAP and WIC participation.ConclusionsThe study finds that fresh produce is more expensive in low-income neighbourhoods and that convenience stores offer more expensive, poorer-quality produce than other stores. Variety is associated with price and most limited in convenience stores, suggesting more work is needed to determine how convenience stores can provide low-income consumers with access to affordable, high-quality produce. WIC and SNAP can contribute to the solution.

Changes to SNAP-authorized retailer stocking requirements and the supply of foods and beverages in low-income communities in seven U.S. states

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 857-864 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa M Powell ◽  
Chelsea R Singleton ◽  
Yu Li ◽  
Elizabeth Anderson Steeves ◽  
Iana A Castro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ◽  
Supplemental Nutrition ◽  
Assistance Program ◽  
Food Stores ◽  
Nutrition Assistance

Less than one-half of small food stores audited in low-income communities met the USDA’s 2016 proposed expansion of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-authorized retailer stocking requirements.

scholarly journals Participants’ Experiences of the 2018–2019 Government Shutdown and Subsequent Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Benefit Disruption Can Inform Future Policy

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1867
Author(s):  
Wendi Gosliner ◽  
Wei-Ting Chen ◽  
Cathryn Johnson ◽  
Elsa Michelle Esparza ◽  
Natalie Price ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Customer Service ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ◽  
Supplemental Nutrition ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Assistance Program ◽  
Cascading Effects ◽  
Nutrition Assistance ◽  
Government Shutdown

The federal government shutdown from 22 December 2018 to 25 January 2019 created an unprecedented disruption in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. We conducted a cross-sectional qualitative study to begin to capture how the disruption affected food security and wellbeing among a small sample of California SNAP participants. We collected data from 26 low-income adults in four focus groups in four diverse California counties. We found that participants routinely struggle to secure an adequate and healthy diet in the context of high costs of living, the shutdown and benefit disruption added to participants’ stress and uncertainty and exacerbated food insecurity, and it diminished some participants’ faith in government. Participants reported that, while having additional benefits in January felt like a relief from typical end-of-month deprivation, the subsequent extended gap between benefit distributions and a lack of clarity about future benefits caused cascading effects as participants later had to divert money from other expenses to buy food and faced added uncertainty about future economic stability. Additionally, the shutdown highlighted challenges related to the availability, timing, and tone of communications between participants and SNAP agencies. Participants recommended that SNAP adjust benefit and eligibility levels to better address costs of living, improve customer service, and avoid future disruptions.

scholarly journals Farmers' Market Utilization among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Recipients in New Orleans, Louisiana: Preliminary Findings

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 295
Author(s):  
Henry Nuss ◽  
Meg Skizim ◽  
Hasheemah Afaneh ◽  
Lucio Miele ◽  
Melinda Sothern
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Internet Use ◽  
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ◽  
Farmers Markets ◽  
Grocery Stores ◽  
Supplemental Nutrition ◽  
Assistance Program ◽  
Farmers Market ◽  
Transfer Payments ◽  
Nutrition Assistance

<p class="Pa7"><strong>Objective: </strong>Farmers’ markets are increas­ingly being promoted as a means to provide fresh produce to poor and underserved communities. However, farmers’ market (FM) use remains low among low-income patrons. The purpose of our study was to examine FM awareness and use, grocery shopping behaviors, and internet use among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients.</p><p class="Pa7"><strong>Design: </strong>A descriptive analysis of preliminary data was performed to evaluate quantita­tive baseline data among SNAP recipients between June and August 2016 in New Or­leans, Louisiana (N=51). Data were collected via a 42-item online survey that included demographics, internet use, FM awareness and use, health information seeking behaviors and fruit and vegetable purchasing behaviors.</p><p class="Pa7"><strong>Results: </strong>Less than half of the survey respondents (n=24) had ever been to a FM. Local grocery stores and Wal-Mart were most used for purchasing fruits and vegetables (88% and 84%, respectively). The most common sources of healthy eat­ing information were Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and the internet, frequently accessed via smartphones. More than 80% of participants were not aware that local FMs accepted electronic benefit transfer payments as a form of payment.</p><p class="Pa7"><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These results support the incorporation of promotional methodol­ogy that combines internet-based mobile technology and existing services (eg, WIC) as a viable strategy to improve farmers’ market use among low-income populations. As most participants were not aware that participating FMs accept electronic ben­efit transfer payments, this fact should be emphasized in promotional material.</p><p class="Pa7">Ethn Dis. 2017;27(Suppl 1):295-302; doi:10.18865/ed.27.S1.295.</p>

Effectiveness of mobile produce markets in increasing access and affordability of fruits and vegetables among low-income seniors

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (17) ◽  
pp. 3226-3235
Author(s):  
Reece Lyerly ◽  
Pasquale Rummo ◽  
Sarah Amin ◽  
Whitney Evans ◽  
Eliza Dexter Cohen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rhode Island ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Assistance Program ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Populations At Risk ◽  
Nutrition Assistance

AbstractObjective:Mobile produce markets (MPM) offering Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) incentive programmes have the potential to provide accessible and affordable fruits and vegetables (FV) to populations at risk of food insecurity. The objective of this study is to characterise the customer base of an MPM and describe their participation at twelve market sites serving low-income seniors.Design:In 2018, customers from an MPM in Rhode Island (RI) participated in a cross-sectional survey (n 330; 68 % response rate), which measured dietary patterns, food security and food shopping behaviours. We compared the shopping habits and market experiences of customers who currently received SNAP benefits with those who did not currently receive SNAP benefits.Setting:An MPM in RI which offers a 50 % discount for FV purchased with SNAP benefits.Participants:This study describes current market customers at twelve market sites serving low-income seniors.Results:Market customers were mostly low-income, female, over the age of 50 years and Hispanic/Latino. Most customers received SNAP benefits, and almost half were food insecure. In addition, three quarters of SNAP customers reported their SNAP benefits last longer since shopping at the markets. Mixed logistic regression models indicated that SNAP customers were more likely to report buying and eating more FV than non-SNAP customers.Conclusions:MPM are critical resources of affordable produce and have been successful in improving access to FV among individuals of low socio-economic status in RI. This case study can inform policy and programme recommendations for MPM and SNAP incentive programmes.

scholarly journals Three-year trends in dietary behaviours among mothers, teenagers and children from SNAP-Ed (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program–Education) eligible households across California

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fred Molitor ◽  
Celeste Doerr ◽  
John Pugliese ◽  
Lauren Whetstone
Keyword(s):  
Diet Quality ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Vegetable Intake ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Healthy Eating Index ◽  
Poverty Level ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Assistance Program ◽  
Dietary Behaviours ◽  
Nutrition Assistance

AbstractObjective:To examine trends from 2015 to 2017 in dietary behaviours and diet quality among low-income mothers, teenagers and children.Design:Cross-sectional telephone surveys using a validated 24 h dietary assessment.Setting:Randomly sampled households with incomes ≤185 % of the US federal poverty level across California.Participants:Survey participants were 13 247 mothers (≥18 years), 3293 teenagers (12–17 years) and 6043 children (5–11 years). Respondents were mostly Latino.Results:Over the 3-year study period, consumption of fruits and vegetables with and without 100 % fruit juice increased (P ≤ 0·05) by at least 0·3 cups/d for mothers, teenagers and children. Intake of water also increased (P ≤ 0·001) by more than 1 cup/d for mothers and children and 2 cups/d for teenagers. Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption was unchanged over the 3 years. Overall diet quality, as assessed by the Healthy Eating Index-2015, improved (P ≤ 0·01) for mothers, teenagers and children. Covariates for the fifteen regression models (three age groups by five outcome variables) included race/ethnicity, age, education for mothers, and gender for teenagers and children.Conclusions:The observed increases in fruit and vegetable intake and improvements in overall diet quality during the 3-year period suggest that low-income Californians may have lowered their risk of preventable diseases. However, more intense or strategic SSB-reduction interventions are required. Regional- or state-level, population-based surveillance of dietary behaviours is useful for public health nutrition policy and programme decision making, and can be used to assess potential trends in future negative health outcomes and related costs associated with poor dietary behaviours within at-risk populations.

Role of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Improving Diet Quality: Implications for Nurses

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 62-70
Author(s):  
Victoria M. Pak ◽  
Erin Ferranti ◽  
Ingrid Duva ◽  
Melissa Owen ◽  
Sandra B. Dunbar
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Supplemental Nutrition ◽  
Assistance Program ◽  
Health Goals ◽  
National Public Health ◽  
Nutrition Assistance

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides access to healthy food for low-income individuals and households. Food security, however, does not necessarily achieve higher diet quality for beneficiaries. Diet quality is an important consideration for the development and management of chronic illness, a significant public health concern. In this study, we review incentives and disincentives implemented to improve the diet quality, the evidence on SNAP including benefits, challenges, and the politics of funding. New interventions and policies will be needed in order to improve the overall diet quality of SNAP households. SNAP should align with nutritional science to meet national public health goals. Nurses are trusted advocates for patients and the public and are uniquely positioned to aid in this effort. Informed by evidence, nurses willing to leverage their influence, can lead this needed change.

scholarly journals Dietary Supplement Use among U.S. Children by Family Income, Food Security Level, and Nutrition Assistance Program Participation Status in 2011–2014

Nutrients ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shinyoung Jun ◽  
Alexandra Cowan ◽  
Janet Tooze ◽  
Jaime Gahche ◽  
Johanna Dwyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Family Income ◽  
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Security Level ◽  
Program Participation ◽  
Supplemental Nutrition ◽  
Assistance Program ◽  
Nutrition Assistance

This analysis characterizes use of dietary supplements (DS) and motivations for DS use among U.S. children (≤18 years) by family income level, food security status, and federal nutrition assistance program participation using the 2011–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. About one-third (32%) of children used DS, mostly multivitamin-minerals (MVM; 24%). DS and MVM use were associated with higher family income and higher household food security level. DS use was lowest among children in households participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP; 20%) and those participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC; 26%) compared to both income-eligible and income-ineligible nonparticipants. Most children who used DS took only one (83%) or two (12%) products; although children in low-income families took fewer products than those in higher income families. The most common motivations for DS and MVM use were to “improve (42% or 46%)” or “maintain (34 or 38%)” health, followed by “to supplement the diet (23 or 24%)” for DS or MVM, respectively. High-income children were more likely to use DS and MVM “to supplement the diet” than middle- or low-income children. Only 18% of child DS users took DS based on a health practitioner’s recommendation. In conclusion, DS use was lower among children who were in low-income or food-insecure families, or families participating in nutrition assistance programs.

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