Nutritional Profile of Purchases by Store Type: Disparities by Income and Food Program Participation

Citation

Taillie, Lindsey Smith; Grummon, Anna H.; & Miles, Donna R. (2018). Nutritional Profile of Purchases by Store Type: Disparities by Income and Food Program Participation. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 55(2), 167-177. PMCID: PMC6054884

Abstract

Introduction: Policymakers have focused on the food retail environment for improving the dietary quality for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants. Yet little is known about where SNAP households make food and beverage purchases, or how purchases may vary by store type, SNAP participation, and income level. The objective of this study was to examine the association between SNAP-income status (participant, income-eligible nonparticipant, higher-income nonparticipant) and healthfulness of household purchases across store types.
Methods: Data included household packaged food purchases (n=76,458 unique households) from 2010-2014, analyzed in 2017 with multivariable adjusted models to examine the nutritional profile of purchases by store type (grocery, convenience, big box, and other stores) for SNAP participating households, income-eligible nonparticipants, and higher-income nonparticipants. Outcomes included volume and nutrients (kcal, total sugar, saturated fat, and sodium) and calories from food groups.
Results: All households purchased the greatest volume of foods and beverages from grocery stores, followed by big box and other stores, with relatively little purchased from convenience stores. The largest differences between SNAP participants and nonparticipants were observed at grocery stores and big box stores, where SNAP households purchased more calories from starchy vegetables, processed meat, desserts, sweeteners and toppings, total junk food, sugar-sweetened beverages, and milk than income-eligible and higher-income SNAP nonparticipants. SNAP purchases also had considerably higher sodium density. Across store types, the nutritional profile of income-eligible nonparticipants' purchases was similar to higher-income households' purchases.
Conclusions: More research is needed to identify strategies to improve the nutritional profile of purchases among SNAP households.

URL

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2018.04.024

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2018

Journal Title

American Journal of Preventive Medicine

Author(s)

Taillie, Lindsey Smith
Grummon, Anna H.
Miles, Donna R.

PMCID

PMC6054884

ORCiD

Taillie - 0000-0002-4555-2525
Grummon - 0000-0002-8705-038X
Miles - 0000-0001-9490-2096