Geographic patterns and socioeconomic differences in the nutritional quality of household packaged food purchases in the United States.

ABSTRACT:

Background

It is unclear whether dietary quality varies by geography in the US.

Purpose

Assess patterns in packaged food purchases (PFPs).

Methods

We characterized variation in PFP quality from 2008 to 2018 by 1) examining geographic clustering and 2) using regression analysis to control for household characteristics.

Results

Lower quality purchases clustered in the Southeast and Appalachia, whereas higher quality purchases clustered in the West and Northeast. Spatial patterns were similar for low socioeconomic households but not high socioeconomic households. Geographic differences in quality remained after controlling for demographic composition.

Conclusion

This analysis should inform research into systemic drivers of PFP quality.

SUBMITTER: Lacko A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8218902 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature