Geographic patterns and socioeconomic differences in the nutritional quality of household packaged food purchases in the United States.
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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
Publications
Geographic patterns and socioeconomic differences in the nutritional quality of household packaged food purchases in the United States.
Lacko Allison A Delamater Paul P Gordon-Larsen Penny P Wen Ng Shu S
Health & place 20210427
<h4>Background</h4>It is unclear whether dietary quality varies by geography in the US.<h4>Purpose</h4>Assess patterns in packaged food purchases (PFPs).<h4>Methods</h4>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.<h4>Results</h4>Lower quality purchases clustered in the Southeast and Appalachia, whereas higher quality purchases clustered in the West and Northeast. Spatia ...[more]
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Project description:ObjectiveTo determine whether disparities exist in the nutritional quality of packaged foods and beverage purchases by household income, education and race/ethnicity and if they changed over time.DesignWe used Nielsen Homescan, a nationally representative household panel, from 2008 to 2018 (n = 672 821 household-year observations). Multivariate, multilevel regressions were used to model the association between sociodemographic groups and a set of nutritional outcomes of public health interest, including nutrients of concern (sugar, saturated fat and Na) and calories from specific food groups (fruits, non-starchy vegetables, processed meats, sugar-sweetened beverages and junk foods).SettingHousehold panel survey.ParticipantsApproximately 60 000 households each year from the USA.ResultsDisparities were found by income and education for most outcomes and widened for purchases of fruits, vegetables and the percentage of calories from sugar between 2008 and 2018. The magnitude of disparities was largest by education. Disparities between Black and White households include the consumption of processed meats and the percentage of calories from sugar, while no disparities were found between White and Hispanic households. Disparities have been largely persistent, as any significant changes over time have been substantively small.ConclusionsPolicies to improve the healthfulness of packaged foods must be expanded beyond SSB taxes, and future research should focus on what mediates the relationship between education and diet so as not to exacerbate disparities.
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Project description:IntroductionLittle is known about where households shop for packaged foods, what foods and beverages they purchase, and the nutrient content of these purchases. This study describes volume trends and nutrient content (nutrient profiles, food and beverage groups) of household packaged foods purchases (PFPs) by store type.MethodsCross-sectional analysis of U.S. households' PFPs (Nielsen Homescan) from 2000 to 2012 (N=652,023 household-year observations) with survey weights used for national representativeness. Household PFP trends (% volume), household purchases of key food and beverage groups based on caloric contribution, and mean caloric and nutrient densities (sugars, saturated fat, and sodium) of household PFPs were analyzed by store type. Data were collected from 2000 to 2012. Analyses were conducted in 2014-2015.ResultsThe proportion of total volume of household PFPs significantly increased from 2000 to 2012 for mass merchandisers (13.1% to 23.9%), convenience stores (3.6% to 5.9%), and warehouse clubs (6.2% to 9.8%), and significantly decreased for grocery chains (58.5% to 46.3%) and non-chain grocers (10.3% to 5.2%). Top common sources of calories (%) from household PFPs by food/beverage group included: savory snacks, grain-based desserts, and regular soft drinks. The energy, total sugar, sodium, and saturated fat densities of household PFPs from mass merchandisers, warehouse clubs, and convenience stores were higher compared with grocery stores.ConclusionsPFPs from stores with poorer nutrient density (more energy, total sugar, sodium, and saturated fat-dense), such as warehouse clubs, mass merchandisers, and convenience stores are growing, representing a potential U.S. public health concern.
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Project description:BackgroundThe relative affordability of energy-dense versus nutrient-rich foods may promote socioeconomic disparities in dietary quality and obesity. Although supermarkets are the largest food source in the American diet, the associations between SES and the cost and nutrient content of freely chosen food purchases have not been described.PurposeTo investigate relationships of SES with the energy cost ($/1000 kcal) and nutrient content of freely chosen supermarket purchases.MethodsSupermarket shoppers (n=69) were recruited at a Phoenix AZ supermarket in 2009. The energy cost and nutrient content of participants' purchases were calculated from photographs of food packaging and nutrition labels using dietary analysis software. Data were analyzed in 2010-2011.ResultsTwo SES indicators, education and household income as a percentage of the federal poverty guideline (FPG), were associated with the energy cost of purchased foods. Adjusting for covariates, the amount spent on 1000 kcal of food was $0.26 greater for every multiple of the FPG, and those with a baccalaureate or postbaccalaureate degree spent an additional $1.05 for every 1000 kcal of food compared to those with no college education. Lower energy cost was associated with higher total fat and less protein, dietary fiber, and vegetables per 1000 kcal purchased.ConclusionsLow-SES supermarket shoppers purchase calories in inexpensive forms that are higher in fat and less nutrient-rich.
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Project description:BackgroundLower household income has been consistently associated with poorer diet quality. Household food purchases may be an important intervention target to improve diet quality among low income populations. Associations between household income and the diet quality of household food purchases were examined.MethodsFood purchase receipt data were collected for 14 days from 202 urban households participating in a study about food shopping. Purchase data were analyzed using NDS-R software and scored using the Healthy Eating Index 2010 (HEI 2010). HEI total and subscores, and proportion of grocery dollars spent on food categories (e.g. fruits, vegetables, sugar sweetened beverages) were examined by household income-to-poverty ratio.ResultsCompared to lower income households, after adjusting for education, marital status and race, higher income households had significantly higher HEI total scores (mean [sd] = 68.2 [13.3] versus 51.6 [13.9], respectively, adjusted p = 0.05), higher total vegetable scores (mean [sd] = 3.6 [1.4] versus 2.3 [1.6], respectively, adjusted p < .01), higher dairy scores (mean [sd] = 5.6 [3.0] versus 5.0 [3.3], p = .05) and lower proportion of grocery dollars spent on frozen desserts (1% [.02] versus 3% [.07], respectively, p = .02).ConclusionsLower income households purchase less healthful foods compared with higher income households. Food purchasing patterns may mediate income differences in dietary intake quality.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02073643.
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