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

ABSTRACT:

Objective

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.

SUBMITTER: Leschewski A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10200461 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature