Food purchasing behaviour of shoppers from different South African socio-economic communities: results from grocery receipts, intercept surveys and in-supermarkets audits

Abstract Objective: To identify factors associated with food purchasing decisions and expenditure of South African supermarket shoppers across income levels. Design: Intercept surveys were conducted, grocery receipts collated and expenditure coded into categories, with each category calculated as percentage of the total expenditure. In-supermarket food quality audit and shelf space measurements of foods such as fruits and vegetables (F&V) (healthy foods), snacks and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) (unhealthy foods) were also assessed. Shoppers and supermarkets were classified by high-, middle- and low-income socio-economic areas (SEA) of residential area and location, respectively. Shoppers were also classified as “out-shoppers” (persons shopping outside their residential SEA) and “in-shoppers” (persons shopping in their residential SEA). Data were analysed using descriptive analysis and ANOVA. Setting: Supermarkets located in different SEA in urban Cape Town. Participants: Three hundred ninety-five shoppers from eleven purposively selected supermarkets. Results: Shelf space ratio of total healthy foods v. unhealthy foods in all the supermarkets was low, with supermarkets located in high SEA having the lowest ratio but better quality of fresh F&V. The share expenditure on SSB and snacks was higher than F&V in all SEA. Food secure shoppers spent more on food, but food items purchased frequently did not differ from the food insecure shoppers. Socio-economic status and food security were associated with greater expenditure on food items in supermarkets but not with overall healthier food purchases. Conclusion: Urban supermarket shoppers in South Africa spent substantially more on unhealthy food items, which were also allocated greater shelf space, compared with healthier foods.

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Healthy food purchasing among African American youth: associations with child gender, adult caregiver characteristics and the home food environment

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s136898001000251x ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 14 (4) ◽

pp. 670-677 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Pamela J Surkan ◽

Anastasia J Coutinho ◽

Karina Christiansen ◽

Lauren A Dennisuk ◽

Sonali Suratkar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Low Income ◽

Food Environment ◽

Healthy Food ◽

Food Preparation ◽

Healthy Foods ◽

Home Food Environment ◽

Behavioural Intentions ◽

Food Purchasing ◽

Food Purchases ◽

Home Food

AbstractObjectiveTo examine how factors related to the home food environment and individual characteristics are associated with healthy food purchasing among low-income African American (AA) youth.SubjectsA total of 206 AA youth (ninety-one boys and 115 girls), aged 10–14 years, and their primary adult caregivers.SettingFourteen Baltimore recreation centres in low-income neighbourhoods.DesignCross-sectional study. We collected information about food purchasing, the home food environment, sociodemographic and psychosocial factors drawn from social cognitive theory. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the factors associated with the frequency and proportion of healthy food purchases in all youth and stratified by gender. Low-fat or low-sugar foods were defined as healthy.ResultsYouth purchased an average of 1·5 healthy foods (range = 0–15) in the week before the interview, comprising an average of 11·6 % (range = 0–80 %) of total food purchases. The most commonly purchased healthy foods included water and sunflower seeds/nuts. Healthier food-related behavioural intentions were associated with a higher frequency of healthy foods purchased (OR = 1·4, P < 0·05), which was stronger in girls (OR = 1·9, P < 0·01). Greater caregiver self-efficacy for healthy food purchasing/preparation was associated with increased frequency of healthy purchasing among girls (OR = 1·3, P < 0·05). Among girls, more frequent food preparation by a family member (OR = 6·6, P < 0·01) was associated with purchasing a higher proportion of healthy foods. No significant associations were observed for boys.ConclusionsInterventions focused on AA girls should emphasize increasing food-related behavioural intentions. For girls, associations between caregiver self-efficacy and home food preparation suggest the importance of the caregiver in healthy food purchasing.

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Healthy eating: a matter of prioritisation by households or policymakers?

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980021000677 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-3

Author(s):

Joreintje Dingena Mackenbach

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Healthy Eating ◽

Low Income ◽

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Food System ◽

Vegetable Consumption ◽

Fruit And Vegetable Consumption ◽

Healthy Foods ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

Decision Making Processes

Abstract I reflect upon the potential reasons why American low-income households do not spend an optimal proportion of their food budgets on fruits and vegetables, even though this would allow them to meet the recommended levels of fruit and vegetable consumption. Other priorities than health, automatic decision-making processes and access to healthy foods play a role, but solutions for the persistent socio-economic inequalities in diet should be sought in the wider food system which promotes cheap, mass-produced foods. I argue that, ultimately, healthy eating is not a matter of prioritisation by individual households but by policymakers.

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Food-Choice Values of Elementary School Children and Strategies Used to Influence Mothers’ Food Purchasing Decisions

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzaa051_017 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. 720-720

Author(s):

Nazratun Monalisa ◽

Edward Frongillo ◽

Christine Blake ◽

Susan Steck ◽

Robin DiPietro

Keyword(s):

Elementary School ◽

South Carolina ◽

School Children ◽

Food Choice ◽

Elementary School Children ◽

Healthy Foods ◽

Purchasing Decisions ◽

Food Purchasing ◽

Food Purchases ◽

Children's Strategies

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to understand the values held by elementary school children in constructing food choices and the strategies they used to influence their mothers’ food purchasing decisions. Methods Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 40 elementary school children (aged 6–11 years) and their mothers living in South Carolina. Food choice information was collected only from children and strategies to influence mothers’ food purchases were collected from both children and mothers. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and open-coded. Coding matrices were used to compare children's and mothers’ responses on the children's strategies to influence mothers’ food purchasing decisions. Results Children most valued taste, texture, and flavor of the food items, followed by perceived benefits, happiness, craving, following family and friends, the items’ healthfulness, preparation, and presentation when they made food choice decisions. Children reported 157 strategies that they used to influence mothers’ purchasing decisions. Mothers had concordance with 80 strategies that children mentioned. In mother-child dyads, more concordance was observed between mothers and sons than between mothers and daughters. The most common and successful strategies from both the children's and mothers’ perspectives were reasoned requests, repeated polite requests, and referencing friends. Other strategies included offers to contribute money or service, teaming up with siblings, writing a shopping list, and grabbing desired items. Mothers perceived that children had a lot of influence on their food purchasing decisions. Conclusions Children were aware of the strategies that would get positive reactions from their mothers. Mothers’ acknowledgement of children's influence on their food purchase decisions suggests that children can serve as change agents for improving mothers’ food purchases if children prefer healthy foods. Interventions are needed for mothers to help address children's strategies to influence mothers to purchase unhealthy foods and make healthy foods more appealing to children instead of yielding to children's requests for unhealthy items. Funding Sources SPARC grant and Ogoussan Doctoral Research Award from the University of South Carolina.

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Where do food desert residents buy most of their junk food? Supermarkets

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s136898001600269x ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 20 (14) ◽

pp. 2608-2616 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Christine A Vaughan ◽

Deborah A Cohen ◽

Madhumita Ghosh-Dastidar ◽

Gerald P Hunter ◽

Tamara Dubowitz

Keyword(s):

Low Income ◽

Food Desert ◽

Healthy Foods ◽

Food Retail ◽

Limited Access ◽

Food Purchases ◽

Convenience Stores ◽

Food And Beverage ◽

Predominantly Female ◽

Access To Healthy Foods

Abstract Objective To examine where residents in an area with limited access to healthy foods (an urban food desert) purchased healthier and less healthy foods. Design Food shopping receipts were collected over a one-week period in 2013. These were analysed to describe where residents shopped for food and what types of food they bought. Setting Two low-income, predominantly African-American neighbourhoods with limited access to healthy foods in Pittsburgh, PA, USA. Subjects Two hundred and ninety-three households in which the primary food shoppers were predominantly female (77·8 %) and non-Hispanic black (91·1 %) adults. Results Full-service supermarkets were by far the most common food retail outlet from which food receipts were returned and accounted for a much larger proportion (57·4 %) of food and beverage expenditures, both healthy and unhealthy, than other food retail outlets. Although patronized less frequently, convenience stores were notable purveyors of unhealthy foods. Conclusions Findings highlight the need to implement policies that can help to decrease unhealthy food purchases in full-service supermarkets and convenience stores and increase healthy food purchases in convenience stores.

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

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980020002931 ◽

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.

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Understanding the Intersection of Race/Ethnicity, Socioeconomic Status, and Geographic Location: A Scoping Review of U.S. Consumer Food Purchasing

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17207677 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (20) ◽

pp. 7677 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Chelsea Singleton ◽

Megan Winkler ◽

Bailey Houghtaling ◽

Oluwafikayo Adeyemi ◽

Alexandra Roehll ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Socioeconomic Status ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Low Income ◽

Geographic Location ◽

Healthy Eating Index ◽

Food Purchasing ◽

Food Purchases ◽

Sweetened Beverages ◽

Food And Beverage ◽

Race Ethnicity

Disparities in diet quality persist in the U.S. Examining consumer food purchasing can provide unique insight into the nutritional inequities documented by race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status (SES), and geographic location (i.e., urban vs. rural). There remains limited understanding of how these three factors intersect to influence consumer food purchasing. This study aimed to summarize peer-reviewed scientific studies that provided an intersectional perspective on U.S. consumer food purchasing. Thirty-four studies were examined that presented objectively measured data on purchasing outcomes of interest (e.g., fruits, vegetables, salty snacks, sugar-sweetened beverages, Healthy Eating Index, etc.). All studies were of acceptable or high quality. Only six studies (17.6%) assessed consumer food purchases at the intersection of race/ethnicity, SES, or geographic location. Other studies evaluated racial/ethnic or SES differences in food purchasing or described the food and/or beverage purchases of a targeted population (example: low-income non-Hispanic Black households). No study assessed geographic differences in food or beverage purchases or examined purchases at the intersection of all three factors. Overall, this scoping review highlights the scarcity of literature on the role of intersectionality in consumer food and beverage purchasing and provides recommendations for future studies to grow this important area of research.

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The complexities of selling fruits and vegetables in remote Navajo Nation retail outlets: perspectives from owners and managers of small stores

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980019003720 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 23 (9) ◽

pp. 1638-1646 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Emily M Piltch ◽

Sonya S Shin ◽

Robert F Houser ◽

Timothy Griffin

Keyword(s):

Native American ◽

Low Income ◽

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Grocery Stores ◽

Healthy Foods ◽

Sampling Frame ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Navajo Nation ◽

Product Selection ◽

The Usa

AbstractObjective:Navajo Nation residents experience extreme rates of poverty, food insecurity and diet-related diseases. While many residents travel far to shop at grocery stores, there are small stores closer to home that could provide more healthy options, like fruits and vegetables (F&V). Little is known from the perspective of store owners and managers regarding the barriers and facilitators to offering F&V; the present study contributes to filling that gap.Design:Data were collected through structured interviews from a sampling frame of all store owners or managers in the setting (n 29).Setting:Small stores in Navajo Nation, New Mexico, USA. Navajo Nation is predominantly rural and the largest federally recognized Native American tribe in the USA.Participants:Sixteen managers and six owners at twenty-two stores.Results:When asked about the types of foods that were most commonly purchased at their stores, most participants reported snacks and drinks (82 and 68 %, respectively). Many participants reported they would like to offer more fresh F&V. However, barriers included varying perceived customer demand, limited F&V choices from distributors and (for some managers) limited authority over product selection.Conclusions:Findings contribute to the discussion on engaging store owners and managers in providing quality, healthy foods close to home in low-income, rural regions.

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Disparities in food habits across Europe

Proceedings of The Nutrition Society ◽

10.1079/pns2002188 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 61 (4) ◽

pp. 553-558 ◽

Cited By ~ 62

Author(s):

Antonia Trichopoulou ◽

Androniki Naska ◽

Tina Costacou ◽

Keyword(s):

Food Availability ◽

Food Habits ◽

Economic Status ◽

Household Head ◽

Food Preferences ◽

Food Purchasing ◽

Food Items ◽

The North ◽

Fresh Vegetables ◽

European Populations

Socially-and culturally-patterned differences in food habits exist both between and within European populations. Daily individual food availability data, collected through the national household budget surveys (HBS) and harmonized in the context of the Data Food Networking (DAFNE) project, were used to assess disparities in food habits of seven European populations and to evaluate dietary changes within a 10-year interval. The availability of selected food items was further estimated according to the educational level of the household head and, based only on the Greek HBS data, according to quintiles of the household's food purchasing capacity. Results for overall food availability support the north-south differentiation in food habits. Generally, the availability of most food items, including foods such as vegetable fats, animal lipids and sugar products, has decreased over the 10 years. Households in which the head was in the higher education categories reported lower availability for most food items, with the exception of low-fat milk, fresh fruit, animal lipids and soft drinks; the latter showing a sharp increase even within southern European households. The household's food purchasing capacity can be used as an indicator of socio-economic status, with higher values being associated with lower status. Greek households of lower social class follow a healthier diet in terms of greater availability of vegetable oils, fresh vegetables, legumes, fish and seafood. Data from the DAFNE databank may serve as a tool for identifying and quantifying variation in food habits in Europe, as well as for providing information on the socio-economic determinants of food preferences.

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Towards healthier food choices for hospital staff and visitors: impacts of a healthy food and drink policy implemented at scale in Australia

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980021003426 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-19

Author(s):

Leonie Cranney ◽

Margaret Thomas ◽

Leah Shepherd ◽

Megan Cobcroft ◽

Tarli O’Connell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hospital Staff ◽

Healthy Food ◽

Public Hospitals ◽

Food Purchasing ◽

Food Items ◽

Food Purchases ◽

Target Date ◽

Food And Drink ◽

The Impact ◽

At Home

Abstract Objective: To determine the impact of a healthy food and drink policy on hospital staff and visitors’ food purchasing behaviours, and their awareness and support for the changes introduced. Design: Two repeated cross-sectional surveys, consisting of intercept interviews and observations of food items purchased were conducted before (March-July 2018) and after (April-June 2019) the target date for implementation of 13 food and drink practices (31 December 2018). Food purchases were coded as ‘Everyday’ (healthy) or ‘Occasional’ (unhealthy). Setting: Ten randomly selected NSW public hospitals, collection sites including hospital entrances and 13 hospital cafés/cafeterias. Participants: 4,808 hospital staff and visitors completed the surveys (response rate 85%). The majority were female (63%), spoke English at home (85%), and just over half had completed tertiary education (55%). Results: Significant increases from before to after the implementation target date were found for policy awareness (23% to 42%; p<0.0001) and support (89% to 92%; p=0.01). The proportion of ‘Everyday’ food purchases increased, but not significantly (56% to 59%; p=0.22); with significant heterogeneity between outlets (p=0.0008). Overall, younger, non-tertiary-educated adults, visitors and those that spoke English at home were significantly less likely to purchase ‘Everyday’ food items. Support was also significantly lower in males. Conclusions: The findings provide evidence of strong policy support, an increasing awareness of related changes, and a trend towards increased ‘Everyday’ food purchasing. Given the relatively early phase of policy implementation, and the complexity of individual food purchasing decisions, longer-term follow-up of purchasing behaviour is recommended following ongoing implementation efforts.

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Adolescents’ awareness and use of menu labels in eating establishments: results from a focus group study

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980015001044 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 19 (5) ◽

pp. 830-840 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Alexandra E Evans ◽

Samantha R Weiss ◽

Kerry J Meath ◽

Sherman Chow ◽

Elizabeth A Vandewater ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Low Income ◽

Economic Status ◽

Food Selection ◽

Focus Group Study ◽

Public And Private ◽

Food Purchases ◽

Menu Label ◽

The Usa ◽

Eating Out ◽

Potential Strategy

AbstractObjectiveMenu labelling has been identified as a potential strategy to help individuals make healthier choices when eating out. Although adolescents eat out often, little research involving menu labelling has been conducted with this population. The objectives of the present study were to: (i) gather qualitative information from adolescents regarding use of menu labels when eating out; (ii) gather adolescents’ suggestions for optimal ways to design menu labels; and (iii) examine differences between adolescents living in communities of different socio-economic status.DesignQualitative. Five focus groups of five to ten participants.SettingAustin, TX, USA, 2012.SubjectsForty-one adolescents living in diverse communities recruited using a snowballing technique at public and private recreation centres (twenty-four females; twenty-two African American).ResultsParticipants reported that menu labelling, in general, does not influence food selections when eating out. Among participants living in low-income communities, food purchases were based on price, taste and familiarity. Among participants living in high-income areas, food purchases were based on quality and ability to satiate (among boys). According to participants, effective ways to present menu labels are by matching calorie levels with physical activity equivalents or through simple graphics.ConclusionsFor adolescents, providing menu labels in their current format may not be an effective strategy to increase healthy food selection. Given that the current menu label format has been set by federal policy in the USA cannot be easily changed, research to determine how this format can be best presented or enhanced so that it can have an impact on all US sub-populations is warranted.

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