Nutritional profile of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program household food and beverage purchases

AbstractObjectiveThe current study aimed to (i) describe racial/ethnic disparities in household food and beverage purchases among participants and non-participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and (ii) examine longitudinal associations between SNAP participation and purchases by race/ethnicity.DesignTo describe disparities, we estimated sociodemographic-adjusted mean purchases of seven unhealthy food and beverage groups (e.g. junk food, sugar-sweetened beverages) and four nutrients (e.g. sugar, Na) among white, black and Hispanic SNAP-participating and non-participating households. To examine longitudinal associations, we used multivariable linear regression with household fixed effects.SettingUSA, 2010–2014.SubjectsFood and beverage purchases among low-income (≤250 % federal poverty line) US households (n 30 403) participating in the Nielsen Homescan Panel.ResultsAmong non-participants, there were significant black–white disparities (i.e. differences favouring white households) in households’ adjusted mean purchases of processed meat, sweeteners, sugar-sweetened beverages, energy and Na. These disparities persisted among SNAP participants. In contrast, the only significant Hispanic–white disparity among non-participants was for Na purchases; this disparity was reduced in magnitude and no longer significant among SNAP-participating households. Additionally, Hispanic households purchased less energy from junk foods than white households, regardless of SNAP status. In longitudinal models accounting for household fixed effects, SNAP participation was associated with increased energy purchased among black households. No other significant longitudinal associations between SNAP and purchase outcomes were observed.ConclusionsSNAP may not be meeting its potential to improve food and beverage purchases or reduce disparities. Research is needed to identify strategies for ensuring nutritious purchases across all racial/ethnic groups.

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Are Household Food Expenditures Responsive to Entry Into the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program?*

Social Science Quarterly ◽

10.1111/ssqu.12197 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 96 (4) ◽

pp. 1086-1102 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jiyoon June Kim ◽

H. Luke Shaefer

Keyword(s):

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ◽

Supplemental Nutrition ◽

Assistance Program ◽

Household Food ◽

Food Expenditures ◽

Nutrition Assistance

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Household Food Insecurity Is Positively Associated with Depression among Low-Income Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participants and Income-Eligible Nonparticipants

Journal of Nutrition ◽

10.3945/jn.114.199414 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 145 (3) ◽

pp. 622-627 ◽

Cited By ~ 119

Author(s):

Cindy W Leung ◽

Elissa S Epel ◽

Walter C Willett ◽

Eric B Rimm ◽

Barbara A Laraia

Keyword(s):

Food Insecurity ◽

Low Income ◽

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ◽

Household Food Insecurity ◽

Supplemental Nutrition ◽

Assistance Program ◽

Household Food ◽

Nutrition Assistance

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Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program participation and current restricted food expenditures: implications for policy

Public Health Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s1368980020000749 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 23 (18) ◽

pp. 3448-3455

Author(s):

Andrea Leschewski ◽

Annemarie Kuhns

Keyword(s):

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ◽

Bivariate Analysis ◽

Supplemental Nutrition ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Assistance Program ◽

Snack Foods ◽

Household Food ◽

Nutrition Assistance ◽

Instrumental Variables Approach

AbstractObjective:National concerns over food insecurity and obesity have prompted legislation seeking to further restrict Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) purchases. The objective of this study is to provide insight on the potential impact of proposed purchase restrictions by comparing SNAP participant and income-eligible non-participants’ expenditures on current SNAP-restricted foods, that is, hot foods, prepared foods, alcohol, vitamins and meal supplements.Design:Cross-sectional study. Bivariate analysis and multivariable regression analysis with an instrumental variables approach were employed to compare the probability of purchasing and expenditures on current SNAP-restricted foods among SNAP participants and income-eligible non-participants.Setting:National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey, 2012–2013.Participants:2513 households, of which 1316 were SNAP participants and 1197 were income-eligible non-participants.Results:Both the share of households purchasing and household expenditures on current SNAP-restricted foods were similar among SNAP participants and income-eligible non-participants.Conclusions:Results provide further empirical evidence that proposed SNAP purchase restrictions on sugar-sweetened beverages, snack foods and luxury foods are unlikely to have a meaningful effect on SNAP household food purchases.

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Does Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Reduce Food Insecurity among Households with Children? Evidence from the Current Population Survey

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18063178 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (6) ◽

pp. 3178

Author(s):

Jun Zhang ◽

Yanghao Wang ◽

Steven T. Yen

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Current Population Survey ◽

Population Survey ◽

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ◽

Supplemental Nutrition ◽

Assistance Program ◽

Current Population ◽

Households With Children ◽

Nutrition Assistance

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is designed to improve household diet and food security—a pressing problem confronting low-income families in the United States. Previous studies on the issue often ignored the methodological issue of endogenous program participation. We revisit this important issue by estimating a simultaneous equation system with ordinal household food insecurity. Data are drawn from the 2009–2011 Current Population Survey Food Security Supplement (CPS-FSS), restricted to SNAP-eligible households with children. Our results add to the stocks of empirical findings that SNAP participation ameliorates food insecurity among adults only, but increases the probabilities of low and very low food security among children. These contradictory results indicate that our selection approach with a single cross section is only partially successful, and that additional efforts are needed in further analyses of this complicated issue, perhaps with longitudinal data. Socio-demographic variables are found to affect food-secure households and food-insecure households differently, but affect SNAP nonparticipants and participants in the same direction. The state policy tools, such as broad-based categorical eligibility (BBCE) and simplified reporting, can encourage SNAP participation and thus ameliorate food insecurity. Our findings can inform policy deliberations.

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