scholarly journals Socio-Ecological Barriers to Dry Grain Pulse Consumption among Low-Income Women: A Mixed Methods Approach

Nutrients ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shelly Palmer ◽  
Donna Winham ◽  
Ann Oberhauser ◽  
Ruth Litchfield
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Grocery Stores ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Low Socioeconomic ◽  
Assistance Programs ◽  
Ecological Barriers ◽  
Detailed Instruction ◽  
Nutrition Assistance ◽  
Nutrition Assistance Programs ◽  
Federal Assistance

The purpose of this study was to determine the socio-ecological influences on dry grain pulse consumption (beans, peas, lentils, chickpeas) among low-socioeconomic women in Iowa. Seven focus groups were conducted, with 36 women who qualified for income-based federal assistance. Data were collected from October 2017 to January 2018. Participants completed a survey that gathered individual demographics, assessed perceptions of dry grain pulses, and level of food security. Fifty-eight percent of the women were non-Hispanic white, and 39% were African American, all with an average age of 34.7 years. Thirty-three percent of the women consumed pulses less than once per week. Over 80% agreed that beans were healthful and satiating. Some health benefits of beans were unknown by more than 33% of the population, e.g., lower cancer risk, lower LDL, maintain blood glucose. Only 30% of the women were food secure. Focus group audio recordings were transcribed and analyzed by two researchers, using the grounded theory approach. At the policy level, participants knew pulses were included in USA federal nutrition assistance programs like the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Pulses were widely available in grocery stores in communities. Interpersonally, women felt that male partners preferred meats, and children needed animal-source proteins. Individually, women perceived uncooked dry pulses were challenging to prepare. Conclusively, more detailed instruction on pulse preparation, different pulse varieties, and offering canned pulses through WIC may increase consumption.

scholarly journals Racial, Gender, and Age Dynamics in Michigan’s Urban and Rural Farmers Markets: Reducing Food Insecurity, and the Impacts of a Pandemic

2021 ◽  
pp. 000276422110133
Author(s):  
Dorceta E. Taylor ◽  
Alliyah Lusuegro ◽  
Victoria Loong ◽  
Alexis Cambridge ◽  
Claire Nichols ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Food Assistance ◽  
People Of Color ◽  
Farmers Markets ◽  
Farmers Market ◽  
Assistance Programs ◽  
Nutrition Assistance ◽  
Nutrition Assistance Programs ◽  
Number Of Customers

In recent decades, the number of farmer’s markets has increased dramatically across the country. Though farmers markets have been described as White spaces, they can play important roles in reducing food insecurity. This is particularly true in Michigan where farmer’s markets were crucial collaborators in pioneering programs such as Double-Up Food Bucks that help low-income residents and people of color gain access to fresh, healthy, locally grown food. This article examines the questions: (1) What are the demographic characteristics of the farmers market managers, vendors, and customers and how do these influence market activities? (2) To what extent do farmers markets participate in programs aimed at reducing food insecurity? (3) To what extent do farmers markets serve low-income residents and people of color? and (4) How has the Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19) affected the operations of farmers markets. This article discusses the findings of a 2020 study that examined the extent to which Michigan’s farmer’s markets served low-income customers and people of color and participated in food assistance programs. The study examined 79 farmers markets and found that 87.3% of the farmer’s market managers are White. On average, roughly 79% of the vendors of the markets are White and almost 18% are people of color. Most of the vendors in the markets participate in nutrition assistance programs. Market managers estimate that about 76% of their customers are White and about 23% are people of color. Farmers markets operated by people of color attract higher numbers of customers and vendors of color than those operated White market managers. Almost half of the farmer’s markets started operations later than usual in 2020 because of the pandemic. More than a third of the markets reported that their funding declined during the pandemic. Moreover, the number of vendors declined at two thirds of the markets and the number of customers dipped at more than 40% of the markets. On the other hand, the number of people requesting food assistance during the pandemic increased in more than half of the markets.

scholarly journals Assessing the Likely Impacts of Proposed Food Boxes on SNAP Recipients

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Ahoefa Ananouko
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Assistance Program ◽  
Assistance Programs ◽  
Budget Request ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Government ◽  
Nutrition Assistance ◽  
Nutrition Assistance Programs

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, is the largest of the federal food and nutrition assistance programs. Studies show that SNAP is vital in increasing recipients’ food budgets, as reflected in recipients’ food spending before and after the 2009 Stimulus Package. SNAP has also been shown to reduce food insecurity for U.S. households. Proposed changes to SNAP by the Trump administration in its initial 2019 budget request could have major impacts on households that depend on the program to lessen the setbacks caused by poverty. Based on economic theory and results from previous studies examining expenditure responses to changes in SNAP, this article explores possible impacts of allocating half of SNAP benefits in the form of food boxes. It argues that these changes would have a negative impact on low-income households—especially children. These changes could create further food insecurity among some of the most vulnerable, while also increasing costs to the government.

scholarly journals Food Insecurity and Dietary Quality in Older Adults: Do Nutrition Assistance Programs Play a Protective Role?

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 1379-1379
Author(s):  
Nicholas Bishop ◽  
Sarah Ullevig ◽  
Krystle Zuniga ◽  
Kaipeng Wang
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Healthy Eating Index ◽  
Dietary Quality ◽  
Linear Modeling ◽  
Assistance Programs ◽  
Supplemental Food ◽  
Nutrition Assistance ◽  
Nutrition Assistance Programs ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Objectives The emergence of food insecurity as a primary nutrition-related health issue among older adults suggests a need to examine how nutritional assistance programs are related to food insecurity and dietary quality in aging populations. This project examines food insecurity and dietary quality in US adults age 65 and older and the impact of nutrition assistance programs. Methods The sample was drawn from the 2012 Health and Retirement Study and 2013 Health Care and Nutrition Study and included 3779 respondents representing a population of 37,217,566 adults aged 65 and older. Food insecurity was a binary measure based on the USDA six-item US Adult Food Security Survey Module. Two forms of nutritional assistance included receipt of supplemental food from sources such as food banks and Meals-on-Wheels (1 = yes, 0 = no) and reported receipt of SNAP benefits (1 = yes, 0 = no). Dietary quality was measured using the Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010 based on a food frequency questionnaire. General linear modeling adjusting for covariates and complex sampling design was used to test if nutritional assistance moderated the association between food insecurity and AHEI-2010. Results Around 10% of the sample was food insecure, 14% reported receipt of supplemental food, and 6.4% were SNAP benefit recipients. In covariate-adjusted models, food insecurity and receipt of SNAP benefits were not associated with AHEI-2010, but receipt of supplemental food was (b = −1.39, SE = 0.67, P = 0.038). Receipt of supplemental food moderated the association between AHEI-2010 and food insecurity (P = 0.001). Simple effect estimates suggested that among those not receiving supplemental food, the food insecure had lower AHEI-2010 scores than the food secure (b = −2.15, SE = 0.88, P = 0.014). Among those receiving supplemental food, the food insecure had greater AHEI-2010 scores than the food secure (b = 2.62, SE = 1.25, P = 0.035) and similar AHEI-2010 scores as the food secure not receiving supplemental food. Conclusions Preliminary analysis suggests that receipt of supplemental food appears to be associated with better dietary quality among food-insecure older adults and confirms the importance of food assistance programs in combating the negative effect of food insecurity on dietary quality. Funding Sources This work is supported by the Texas State University Research Enhancement Program.

scholarly journals Attitudes toward Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs in Caregivers of Children with Moderate–Acute Malnutrition Younger than 5 Years in Denpasar, Bali: A Qualitative Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 465-474
Author(s):  
K. Desak Ketut Dewi Satiawati ◽  
Pande Putu Januraga
Keyword(s):  
Health Workers ◽  
Acute Malnutrition ◽  
Supplemental Nutrition ◽  
Supplementary Food ◽  
Assistance Programs ◽  
Malnourished Children ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Nutrition Assistance ◽  
Nutrition Assistance Programs ◽  
Moderate Acute Malnutrition

Background: Providing additional nutriment represents one strategy for overcoming moderate–acute malnutrition (MAM) in children younger than 5 years. However, it is important to examine how well received such Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs (SNAP) are by caregivers in order to ensure optimal results. Objective: This study explores SNAP’s reception by caregivers of MAM children younger than 5 years. Methods: Qualitative research was conducted through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 16 selected caregivers and 5 Nutritional Executives from October to November, 2016 at 4 health centers in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia. The results are presented to highlight the underlying patterns of SNAP’s acceptance. Results: Overall, the informants responded negatively to SNAP, reporting that it was of limited usefulness. The results show 4 main themes relating to the receipt of SNAP. The first relates to the caregiver’s preferences in terms of the types of supplementary food on offer. Second, caregiver’s perceptions that the child was not, in fact, in a state of illness or disease due to a medical issue. Third, that the caregiver does not require supplementary food as they maintain that they are able to buy it independently. Fourth, factors related to the lack of support for health-care workers working with malnourished children. Conclusion: The study finds that strengthening the role of health workers in terms of enabling them to effectively communicate the benefits of supplementary food to caregivers as well as adjusting the range of foods available according to the recipient’s preferences is critical in overcoming malnutrition in children younger than 5 years.

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.

Microbiological Testing Results of Boneless and Ground Beef Purchased for the U.S. National School Lunch Program, School Years 2015 to 2018

2019 ◽  
Vol 82 (10) ◽  
pp. 1761-1768
Author(s):  
SCOTT L. VIAL ◽  
DARIN R. DOERSCHER ◽  
CRAIG W. HEDBERG ◽  
WILLIAM A. STONE ◽  
STEPHEN J. WHISENANT ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ground Beef ◽  
School Lunch ◽  
National School Lunch Program ◽  
Assistance Programs ◽  
E Coli ◽  
School Lunch Program ◽  
National School ◽  
Nutrition Assistance ◽  
Nutrition Assistance Programs ◽  
Lunch Program

ABSTRACT The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) purchases beef for the National School Lunch Program and other federal nutrition assistance programs. For beef that will be delivered to food service facilities raw, each ca. 900-kg lot of boneless beef raw material and each ca. 4,500-kg sublot of resultant ground beef is tested for standard plate count (SPC) organisms, coliforms, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and E. coli O157:H7. In addition, 1 of every 10 lots of boneless beef, randomly selected, is tested for E. coli O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145. For beef that will be cooked using a validated lethality step at a federally inspected establishment before delivery, each lot of boneless beef and each sublot of ground beef is tested for SPC organisms, coliforms, and E. coli only. Any lot or sublot exceeding predefined critical limits (CLs) of 100,000 CFU g−1 for SPC organisms, 1,000 CFU g−1 for coliforms, or 500 CFU g−1 for E. coli or for beef containing Salmonella or any of previously mentioned E. coli serotypes is rejected for purchase. For school years 2015 through 2018 (July 2014 through June 2018), 220,497,254 kg of boneless beef and 189,347,318 kg of ground beef were produced for AMS. For boneless beef, 133 (0.06%), 164 (0.07%), and 106 (0.04%) of 240,488 lots exceeded CLs for SPC organisms, coliforms, and E. coli, respectively; 2,038 (1.30%) and 116 (0.07%) of 156,671 lots were positive for Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7, respectively; and 59 (0.36%) of 16,515 lots were positive for non-O157 Shiga toxin–producing E. coli. For ground beef, 46 (0.10%), 27 (0.06%), and 19 (0.04%) of 45,769 sublots exceeded CLs for SPC organisms, coliforms, and E. coli, respectively; and 329 (1.40%) and 18 (0.08%) of 23,475 sublots were positive for Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7, respectively. All lots and sublots found to exceed indicator organism CLs or to contain pathogens were identified, rejected for purchase, and diverted from federal nutrition assistance programs.

Confounding Role of Salmonella Serotype Dublin Testing Results of Boneless and Ground Beef Purchased for the National School Lunch Program, October 2013 to July 2017

2020 ◽  
Vol 83 (4) ◽  
pp. 628-636
Author(s):  
SCOTT L. VIAL ◽  
DARIN R. DOERSCHER ◽  
CARL M. SCHROEDER ◽  
ALI J. STRICKLAND ◽  
CRAIG W. HEDBERG
Keyword(s):  
Sample Size ◽  
Shiga Toxin ◽  
Ground Beef ◽  
Agricultural Marketing ◽  
Assistance Programs ◽  
Salmonella Dublin ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Nutrition Assistance ◽  
Nutrition Assistance Programs ◽  
Marketing Service

ABSTRACT The Agricultural Marketing Service procures boneless and ground beef for federal nutrition assistance programs. It tests procured beef for concentrations of standard plate counts (SPCs), coliforms, and Escherichia coli and for the presence of Salmonella and Shiga toxin–producing E. coli. Any lot exceeding predefined critical limits (100,000 CFU g−1 for SPCs, 1,000 CFU g−1 for coliforms, and 500 CFU g−1 for E. coli) or positive for Salmonella or Shiga toxin–producing E. coli is rejected for purchase. Between 1 October 2013 and 31 July 2017, 166,796 boneless beef lots (each approximately 900 kg) and 25,051 ground beef sublots (each approximately 4,500 kg) were produced. Salmonella was detected in 1,955 (1.17%) boneless beef lots and 219 (0.87%) ground beef sublots. Salmonella sample size increased from an individual 25-g sample to a co-enriched 325-g sample on 1 March 2015. Salmonella presence was associated with season (lowest in spring), larger sample size, and increased log SPC in boneless and ground beef. Increased log E. coli was associated with Salmonella presence in boneless beef, but not ground beef. Salmonella Dublin was the most common serotype in boneless beef (743 of 1,407, 52.8%) and ground beef (35 of 171, 20.5%). Salmonella Dublin was generally associated with lower indicator microorganism concentrations compared with other Salmonella serotypes as a group. Relative to other Salmonella, Salmonella Dublin was associated with season (more common in spring) and smaller sample size in boneless and ground beef. Decreased log SPCs and log coliforms were associated with Salmonella Dublin presence in boneless beef, but not in ground beef. Differential associations between Salmonella Dublin and other serotypes with indicator microorganisms were strong enough to cause confounding and suggest that the presence of Salmonella Dublin needs to be accounted for when evaluating indicator performance to assess Salmonella risk in boneless and ground beef. HIGHLIGHTS

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