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Anderson Steeves E, Gillespie R, DeWitt E, Barr M, Cox B, Hudson T, Haynes-Maslow L, Trude ACB, Gustafson A. Barriers and Facilitators to Online Grocery Shopping Among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Participants: A Mixed Method Study. Ecol Food Nutr 2024:1-20. [PMID: 39154382 DOI: 10.1080/03670244.2024.2392557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/20/2024]
Abstract
This mixed methods study explored online grocery shopping perceptions by surveying individuals who do and do not receive SNAP benefits (n = 129) and by conducting interviews with SNAP recipients (n = 26) who have grocery shopped online. T-tests assessed survey findings, codebook thematic analysis was used to identify qualitative themes, and results were interpreted collectively. Survey results found no differences in perceptions of online grocery shopping between SNAP and non-SNAP recipients (p-values = 0.2-1.0) and that 97% of SNAP recipients felt comfortable using SNAP online. Five qualitative themes were identified and provided context to the survey results. The study findings can inform policy actions within SNAP.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rachel Gillespie
- Department of Family and Consumer Sciences Extension, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Emily DeWitt
- Department of Family and Consumer Sciences Extension, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Makenzie Barr
- Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Brittany Cox
- Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Travis Hudson
- Department of Nutrition, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Lindsey Haynes-Maslow
- Department of Health Policy and Management, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hil, North Carolina, USA
| | - Angela C B Trude
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, New York University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Alison Gustafson
- Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
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Spence EH, Niles MT, Bertmann F, Belarmino EH. Experiences participating in federal nutrition assistance programs during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic: an investigation in Vermont. Nutr J 2024; 23:74. [PMID: 39004722 PMCID: PMC11247766 DOI: 10.1186/s12937-024-00963-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Federal nutrition assistance programs serve as safety nets for many American households, and participation has been linked to increased food security and, in some instances, improved diet quality and mental health outcomes. The COVID-19 pandemic brought new and increased economic, social, and psychological challenges, necessitating inquiry into how nutrition assistance programs are functioning and associated with public health outcomes. METHODS Using data from a representative statewide survey administered in Vermont (n = 600) between July and September 2020, we examined participant experiences with major federal nutrition assistance programs: the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and school meal programs. We explored quantitative and qualitative responses regarding perceptions of program utility, and used nearest neighbors matching analyses in combination with bivariate statistical tests to assess associations between program participation and food insecurity, perceived stress, and fruit and vegetable intake as indicators of dietary quality. RESULTS One in four respondents (27.3%) used at least one federal nutrition assistance program. As compared to non-participants, we found higher rates of food insecurity among program participants (57.5% vs. 18.1%; p < 0.001), an association that persisted even when we compared similar households using matching techniques (p ≤ 0.001). From matched analyses, we found that, compared to low-income non-participants, low-income program participants were less likely to meet fruit intake recommendations (p = 0.048) and that low-income SNAP and WIC participants were less likely to meet vegetable intake recommendations (p = 0.035). We also found lower rates of perceived stress among low-income school meal participant households compared to low-income non-participants (p = 0.039). Despite these mixed outcomes, participants broadly valued federal nutrition assistance programs, characterizing them as helpful or easy to use. CONCLUSIONS We found that federal nutrition assistance programs as a group were not sufficient to address food insecurity and stress or increase fruit and vegetable intake in the state of Vermont during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, participants perceived benefits from participation in these programs. Optimizing the utility of nutrition assistance programs depends on critical examination of their functioning under conditions of great stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma H Spence
- Food Systems Program, University of Vermont, 109 Carrigan Drive, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA
| | - Meredith T Niles
- Food Systems Program, University of Vermont, 109 Carrigan Drive, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA
- Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Vermont, 109 Carrigan Drive, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA
- Gund Institute for Environment, University of Vermont, 210 Colchester Ave, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA
| | - Farryl Bertmann
- Food Systems Program, University of Vermont, 109 Carrigan Drive, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA
- Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Vermont, 109 Carrigan Drive, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA
| | - Emily H Belarmino
- Food Systems Program, University of Vermont, 109 Carrigan Drive, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA.
- Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Vermont, 109 Carrigan Drive, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA.
- Gund Institute for Environment, University of Vermont, 210 Colchester Ave, Burlington, VT, 05405, USA.
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Trude ACB, Bunzl NB, Rehman ZN, Elbel B, Lau S, Talal LA, Weitzman BC. "I Don't Want an App to Do the Work for Me": A Qualitative Study on the Perception of Online Grocery Shopping From Small Food Retailers. J Acad Nutr Diet 2024; 124:804-822. [PMID: 38103594 DOI: 10.1016/j.jand.2023.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Small food retailers often stock energy-dense convenience foods, and they are ubiquitous in low-income urban settings. With the rise in e-commerce, little is known about the acceptability of online grocery shopping from small food retailers. OBJECTIVE To explore perceptions of the role of small food retailers (bodegas) in food access and the acceptability of online grocery shopping from bodegas among customers and owners in a diverse New York City urban neighborhood with low incomes. DESIGN In-depth interviews were conducted with bodega owners and adult customers between May and July 2022. PARTICIPANTS/SETTING Bodega owners who either had (n = 4) or had not (n = 2) implemented a locally designed online grocery system. Customers (n = 25) were recruited through purposive sampling and were eligible if they purchased at bodegas (>once per month), had low income (household income ≤130% of the federal poverty level or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [SNAP] participants), and owned smartphones. ANALYSES PERFORMED All interviews were transcribed and analyzed in MAXQDA (Verbi Software, Berlin, Germany), using grounded theory. RESULTS To owners and customers, bodegas were seen as good neighbors providing culturally appropriate foods and an informal financial safety net. Their perceptions concerning food cost and availability of healthy foods in bodegas diverged. Although most perceived online grocery from bodegas as a positive community resource, they also believed it was not suited to their own community because of the bodega's proximity to customers' homes and the low digital literacy of some community members. Customers reported social norms of pride in not using online grocery shopping. Owners and customers believed the service would more likely be used if government benefits such as SNAP allowed payment for online orders. Both suggested improved outreach to increase program awareness and uptake. CONCLUSIONS Online grocery shopping from small food retailers may be acceptable in urban communities with low income and was perceived as a community resource. However, important barriers need to be addressed, such as social norms related to pride in not using online grocery services, digital literacy, program awareness, and allowing SNAP payment for online orders from bodegas.
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Bennett R, Driessen C, Zorbas C, Sacks G, Gupta A, Cameron A, Gomez-Donoso C, Peeters A, Backholer K. ' Healthier options tend to get lost in the noise of online' - Australian shoppers' experiences with online grocery platforms. Public Health Nutr 2024; 27:e134. [PMID: 38742445 PMCID: PMC11148825 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980024001046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We aimed to understand what influences parents' purchasing behaviours when shopping for groceries online and potential ways to improve the healthiness of online grocery platforms. DESIGN We conducted semi-structured interviews, guided by the Marketing Mix framework. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse data. SETTING Online interviews were conducted with primary grocery shoppers. PARTICIPANTS Parents (n 14) or caregivers (n 2) using online grocery platforms at least every 2 weeks. RESULTS Most participants perceived purchasing healthy food when shopping for groceries online to be more challenging compared to in physical stores. They expressed concerns about the prominence of online marketing for unhealthy food. Participants from lower socio-economic backgrounds often depended on online supermarket catalogues to find price promotions, but healthy options at discounted prices were limited. Across socio-economic groups, fresh items like meat and fruit were preferred to be purchased instore due to concerns about online food quality.Participants believed online grocery platforms should make healthy foods more affordable and supported regulations on supermarket retailers to promote healthy options and limit unhealthy food promotion online. CONCLUSIONS Participants had varied experiences with online grocery shopping, with both positive and negative aspects. Efforts to improve population diets need to include mechanisms to create health-enabling online grocery retail platforms. Government interventions to restrict marketing of unhealthy foods and promote marketing of healthy options on these platforms warrant investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Bennett
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute of Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Christine Driessen
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute of Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Christina Zorbas
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute of Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Gary Sacks
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute of Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Adyya Gupta
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute of Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | | | - Clara Gomez-Donoso
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute of Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Anna Peeters
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute of Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Kathryn Backholer
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute of Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
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5
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Bennett R, Keeble M, Zorbas C, Sacks G, Driessen C, Grigsby-Duffy L, Adams J, Burgoine T, Backholer K. The potential influence of the digital food retail environment on health: A systematic scoping review of the literature. Obes Rev 2024; 25:e13671. [PMID: 38104965 DOI: 10.1111/obr.13671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The digital food retail environment (defined in this study as a digital platform, app or website where food can be purchased by individuals for personal consumption) is an emerging component of the wider food system. We aimed to systematically search and review the literature to understand the potential influence of the digital food retail environment on population diets and health. METHODS Four databases (across health, business, and marketing) and grey literature were searched using terms relating to "food and beverages," "digital," and "purchasing." Identified studies were included if they examined any aspect of the digital food retail environment where outcomes were examined with a health-related focus and were published before September 2023. All study designs were included (quantitative, qualitative, observational, and experimental). Reviews and conference abstracts were excluded. RESULTS We identified 21,382 studies, of which 57 articles were eligible for inclusion. Of the 57 included studies, 30 studies examined online grocery retail, 22 examined online food delivery platforms, and five examined meal kit subscription services. Of the 30 studies examining online grocery retail, six studies reported that customers believed they purchased fewer unhealthy food and beverages when shopping online, compared with shopping in-store. Nevertheless, customers also reported that their ability to choose healthy foods and beverages was reduced when shopping online due to difficulty in product comparison. Studies that examined online food delivery platforms primarily found that they promoted unhealthy foods and beverages more often than healthy options, through extensive use of marketing practices such as price discounts and images, and that unhealthy food offerings on these platforms dominate. Meal kit subscription services offered mostly healthy meals, with studies suggesting that these types of services may help individuals alleviate some of their "mental load" and stress related to cooking meals for their families. CONCLUSIONS The literature describing the digital food retail environment was found to be diverse, with different aspects having potential to impact health in different ways. Some evidence suggests that online grocery retail and meal kit subscription services may have positive population dietary impacts, whereas online food delivery platforms appear likely to promote unhealthy food purchasing. However, the current evidence base is fragmented, with many knowledge gaps. Further research is required to understand the influence of the digital food retail environment on population diets and how these environments can be designed to support healthy food choices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Bennett
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Matthew Keeble
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Box 285 Institute of Metabolic Science, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Christina Zorbas
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Gary Sacks
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Christine Driessen
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lily Grigsby-Duffy
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jean Adams
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Box 285 Institute of Metabolic Science, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Thomas Burgoine
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Box 285 Institute of Metabolic Science, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Kathryn Backholer
- Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
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Chiong R, Salas J, Kohn J, St John E, Figueroa R. A Formative Evaluation of an Online Meal Kit and Grocery Platform for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Recipients. JOURNAL OF NUTRITION EDUCATION AND BEHAVIOR 2024; 56:43-53. [PMID: 37999697 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2023.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the barriers and facilitators to online food purchasing through a meal kit and grocery shopping website titled NY SNAP Express among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) beneficiaries. METHODS A purposive sample of SNAP-eligible adults residing in New York State participated in interviews guided by the Capabilities, Opportunities, Motivations, and Behaviors Model. RESULTS Barriers to online food purchasing among participants (n = 32) include physiological and health conditions, the weight of food, technology, language, the price of foods, transportation challenges, the stigma associated with SNAP, and concerns regarding the quantity and quality of meal kits. Facilitators include health and nutrition improvements, knowledge and skills, saving money, culturally relevant meals, increased efficiency in food purchases and preparation, and customization. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Online platforms such as NY SNAP Express have the potential to increase nutritious food access and resources among SNAP recipients; however, improvements are necessary to meet the needs of its audience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reah Chiong
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, College of Human Ecology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
| | - Julio Salas
- Department of Sociology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
| | - Julia Kohn
- College of Human Ecology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
| | - Emily St John
- College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
| | - Roger Figueroa
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, College of Human Ecology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
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Calloway EE, Steeves EA, Nitto AM, Hill JL. A Mixed-Methods Study of Perceived Implementation Challenges for WIC Online Ordering and Transactions. J Acad Nutr Diet 2023; 123:1449-1460. [PMID: 37149033 DOI: 10.1016/j.jand.2023.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Federal food assistance programs are working towards online grocery shopping. Online ordering in Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) is emerging following successful implementation in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). OBJECTIVE To identify anticipated challenges, potential solutions, and expected costs of WIC online ordering. DESIGN Cross-sectional, mixed-methods, web-based, survey research. SUBJECTS AND SETTING Data were collected from December 2020 to January 2021. Purposeful and snowball sampling included WIC stakeholders involved in developing processes and systems required for WIC online ordering. Respondents represented diverse geographic areas, levels of intraorganizational authority, and WIC benefit card types. STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED The research team used a rapid analysis and lean coding approach to identify emergent themes from open-ended survey responses. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the distribution of responses across themes and stakeholder types. RESULTS Respondents (n = 145) described 812 anticipated challenges within 20 themes grouped into five topic areas: rules and regulations; shopping experience; security, confidentiality, fraud, and WIC State agency processes; training, assistance, and education; and equitable access and buy-in. Addressing anticipated regulatory issues were among the few concrete potential solutions described. The two most frequent costs reported were increased staff time and start-up and ongoing technology costs. CONCLUSIONS This study identified several, critical anticipated challenges and considerations that will help prepare WIC state agencies for opportunities to expand online ordering to WIC participants.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elizabeth Anderson Steeves
- Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition, Omaha, Nebraska; Department of Nutrition, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee
| | | | - Jennie L Hill
- Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition, Omaha, Nebraska; Population Health Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
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8
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Gupta S, Mayers E, Schwierking S, Westrick M, Schier H, Sharn AR, Pannell C, Gunther C. Online Grocery Shopping and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Electronic Benefit Transfer Card (EBT): Perceptions of Head Start Caregivers. Ecol Food Nutr 2023; 62:75-87. [PMID: 36880800 DOI: 10.1080/03670244.2023.2187383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to explore perceptions of online grocery shopping and the online United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Electronic Benefit Transfer card (EBT) program among Head Start caregivers. Three focus groups were conducted between December 2019 and January 2020. Most participants hadn't tried online grocery shopping. Concerns included others choosing perishables, receiving wrong items, and inappropriate substitutes. Perceived benefits included saving time, preventing impulse buys, and eating healthier. Results have broad applicability in the current COVID-19 pandemic where online grocery shopping and the online SNAP EBT program have rapidly expanded across the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivani Gupta
- Nationwide Children's Hospital, Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Elizabeth Mayers
- College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, Family and Consumer Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.,College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Sierra Schwierking
- College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Miranda Westrick
- College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Heather Schier
- College of Education and Human Ecology, Department of Human Sciences, Human Nutrition Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Amy R Sharn
- College of Education and Human Ecology, Department of Human Sciences, Human Nutrition Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Cara Pannell
- College of Education and Human Ecology, Department of Human Sciences, Human Nutrition Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Carolyn Gunther
- College of Nursing, Martha S. Pitzer Center for Women, Children, and Youth, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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Foster IS, LeBoa C, Hoffs CT, Polselli AM, de Nocker C, Liu SY, Rummo PE, Brandt EJ, Rimm EB. An Analysis of SNAP Online Purchasing Behavior in California: A Review of the First 7 Months of Program Implementation and Lessons Learned. Am J Health Promot 2023; 37:333-344. [PMID: 36250387 DOI: 10.1177/08901171221131194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Online Purchasing Pilot (OPP) allows for the online purchase of groceries using SNAP benefits. First implemented in California in late April 2020, little is known about program usage. This study assessed initial implementation of SNAP Online in California using SNAP OPP transaction data from April - October 2020. Insights can identify usage differences by demographics, store availability, and rurality to help inform future pilot programs and nutrition initiatives. DESIGN Using generalized estimating equations, we modeled county-level associations between transactions and county-level demographics, rurality, and retailer availability. SETTING Transaction data from California's Department of Social Services (CDSS) was linked with publicly-available, county-level demographics. SUBJECTS Anonymized county-level data on SNAP Online transactions and CalFresh households. MEASURES The primary outcome was successful SNAP Online food transactions per county. ANALYSIS Generalized estimating equation models with clustering by county was used. RESULTS During the first 7 months, median SNAP Online transactions per county per month was 665; 2.7% of total SNAP redemptions were from SNAP Online. Counties with more female-led, disabled, Latino, or Asian CalFresh households had fewer Amazon transactions. Each additional Walmart per county corresponded to 260.7 more Walmart transactions (P < .001). Each percent increase in county zip codes covered by Amazon Fresh corresponded to 45.4 fewer Walmart transactions (P < .05) and 37.3 more Amazon transactions (P < .001). CONCLUSION Number of stores per county was associated with greater online grocery transactions, whereas rurality was not. County-level SNAP demographics correlated with transactions at particular retailers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christopher LeBoa
- Department of Infectious Disease and Geographic Medicine, 6429Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Charlie T Hoffs
- Department of Chemical Engineering, 6429Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Angelina M Polselli
- Department Political Science & Government, 7149University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Charly de Nocker
- Department of International Studies, 7149University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Samantha Y Liu
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, 6429Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Pasquale E Rummo
- Department of Population Health, 12296NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Eric J Brandt
- Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, 21614University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.,Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, 21614University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Eric B Rimm
- Departments of Epidemiology and Nutrition, 1857Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Cambridge, MA, USA
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10
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Zhang Q, Zhang J, Park K, Tang C. Evaluation of WIC Online Ordering during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from an Oklahoma Grocery Store Chain. Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15030478. [PMID: 36771185 PMCID: PMC9920272 DOI: 10.3390/nu15030478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic is worsening the disparities in food access in the United States. As consumers have been increasingly using grocery online ordering services to limit their exposure to the COVID-19 virus, participants of federal nutrition assistance programs lack the online benefit redemption option. With the support of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), retailers are pilot-testing online food benefit ordering in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). By combining the Oklahoma WIC administrative data, the online ordering data from a grocery store chain in Oklahoma, and the COVID-19 data in Oklahoma, this study examines how WIC participants responded to the online food benefit ordering option and how their adoption of online ordering was associated with the COVID-19 incidence. Results show that from July to December 2020, 15,171 WIC households redeemed WIC benefits at an Oklahoma chain store, but only 819 of them adopted online ordering. They together completed 102,227 online orders, which accounted for 2.7% of the store visits and 2.6% of the monetary value of WIC redemptions at these stores. There was no significant relationship between WIC online ordering adoption and COVID-19 incidence in Oklahoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Zhang
- School of Community and Environmental Health, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +01-757-6836870
| | - Junzhou Zhang
- Department of Marketing, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ 07043, USA
| | - Kayoung Park
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA
| | - Chuanyi Tang
- Department of Marketing, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA
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11
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Hodges L, Lowery CM, Patel P, McInnis J, Zhang Q. A Systematic Review of Marketing Practices Used in Online Grocery Shopping: Implications for WIC Online Ordering. Nutrients 2023; 15:446. [PMID: 36678317 PMCID: PMC9866762 DOI: 10.3390/nu15020446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) plans to allow participants to redeem their food package benefits online, i.e., online ordering. As grocery shopping online has become more common, companies have developed strategies to market food products to customers using online (or mobile) grocery shopping platforms. There is a significant knowledge gap in how these strategies may influence WIC participants who choose to shop for WIC foods online. This review examines the relevant literature to (1) identify food marketing strategies used in online grocery shopping platforms, (2) understand how these strategies influence consumer behavior and consumer diet, and (3) consider the implications for WIC participants. A total of 1862 references were identified from a systematic database search, of which 83 were included for full-text screening and 18 were included for data extraction and evidence synthesis. The included studies provide policymakers and other stakeholders involved in developing WIC online order processes with valuable information about the factors that shape healthy food choices in the online food retail environment. Findings indicate that some marketing interventions, such as nutrition labeling and food swaps, may encourage healthier food choices in the online environment and could potentially be tailored to reinforce WIC messaging about a healthy diet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie Hodges
- Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Kansas City, MO 64105, USA
| | - Caitlin M. Lowery
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Priyanka Patel
- School of Community & Environmental Health, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA
| | - Joleen McInnis
- University Libraries, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA
| | - Qi Zhang
- School of Community & Environmental Health, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA
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12
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Duffy EW, Lo A, Hall MG, Taillie LS, Ng SW. Prevalence and demographic correlates of online grocery shopping: results from a nationally representative survey during the COVID-19 pandemic. Public Health Nutr 2022; 25:3079-3085. [PMID: 35983641 PMCID: PMC9464506 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980022001756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To estimate the prevalence of online grocery shopping in a nationally representative sample and describe demographic correlates with online grocery shopping. DESIGN The Nielsen COVID-19 Shopper Behavior Survey was administered to a subset of Nielsen National Consumer Panel participants in July 2020. We used survey weighted-multivariable logistic regression to examine demographic correlates of having ever online grocery shopped. SETTING Online survey. PARTICIPANTS 18 598 Nielsen National Consumer Panel participants in the USA. RESULTS Thirty-nine percent of respondents had purchased groceries online, and among prior purchasers, 89 % indicated that they would continue to online grocery shop in the next month. Canned/packaged foods were the most shopped for grocery category online, followed by beverages, fresh foods and lastly frozen foods. In adjusted analyses, younger respondents (39 years or less) were more likely (47 %) to have ever shopped for groceries online than older age groups (40-54 years, 55-64 years and 65+ years) (29 %, 22 % and 23 %, respectively, all P < 0·001). Those with greater than a college degree were more likely to have ever grocery shopped online (45 %) than respondents with some college education (39 %) and with a high school education or less (32 %) (both P < 0·001). Having children, having a higher income and experiencing food insecurity, particularly among higher income food-insecure households, were also associated with a higher probability of prior online grocery shopping. CONCLUSIONS The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the transition to online grocery shopping. Future research should explore the nutrition implications of online grocery shopping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily W Duffy
- Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health, Carolina Population Center, 123 W Franklin St., Chapel Hill, NC27516, USA
| | - Amy Lo
- Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health, Carolina Population Center, 123 W Franklin St., Chapel Hill, NC27516, USA
| | - Marissa G Hall
- Department of Health Behavior, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health, Carolina Population Center, UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Lindsey Smith Taillie
- Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health, Carolina Population Center, 123 W Franklin St., Chapel Hill, NC27516, USA
| | - Shu Wen Ng
- Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Gillings School of Global Public Health, Carolina Population Center, 123 W Franklin St., Chapel Hill, NC27516, USA
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13
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Age-Specific Differences in Online Grocery Shopping Behaviors and Attitudes among Adults with Low Income in the United States in 2021. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14204427. [PMID: 36297112 PMCID: PMC9609768 DOI: 10.3390/nu14204427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Online grocery shopping has surged in popularity, but we know little about online grocery shopping behaviors and attitudes of adults with low income, including differences by age. Methods: From October to November 2021, we used a survey research firm to recruit a convenience sample of adults who have ever received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits (n = 3526). Participants completed an online survey designed to assess diet and online food shopping behaviors. Using logistic regression, we examined the relationship between participant characteristics, including age, and the likelihood of online grocery shopping, and separately examined variation in the reasons for online grocery shopping by age. Results: About 54% of the participants reported shopping online for groceries in the previous 12 months. Odds of online shopping were higher for those aged 18−33 years (OR = 1.95 (95% CI: 1.52, 2.52; p < 0.001)) and 34−44 years (OR = 1.50 (95% CI: 1.19, 1.90; p < 0.001)) than for those aged ≥65 years. Odds were also higher for those who were food insecure and those with income below USD 20,000, higher educational attainment, and higher fruit and vegetable intake. Low prices were the most popular reason for online grocery shopping (57%). Adults aged 18−33 years old had higher odds of reporting low prices as a motivating factor than older adults (OR = 2.34 (95% CI: 1.78, 3.08; p < 0.001)) and lower odds of reporting being discouraged by lack of social interaction (OR = 0.34 (95% CI: 0.25, 0.45; p < 0.001)). Conclusion: Strategies for making online grocery shopping more affordable for adults with lower income may be promising, especially online produce. For older adults, additional support may be needed to make online shopping a suitable replacement for in-store shopping, such as education on technology and combining it with opportunities for social support.
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14
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Gillespie R, DeWitt E, Trude ACB, Haynes-Maslow L, Hudson T, Anderson-Steeves E, Barr M, Gustafson A. Barriers and Facilitators of Online Grocery Services: Perceptions from Rural and Urban Grocery Store Managers. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14183794. [PMID: 36145165 PMCID: PMC9502010 DOI: 10.3390/nu14183794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Online grocery shopping has expanded rapidly in the U.S., yet little is known about the retailer’s perceptions of online grocery services, which can aid in the expansion of services. Furthermore, many barriers to online grocery utilization persist across geographic areas, especially among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)-authorized retailers. This study captured perceived barriers and facilitators of online grocery shopping for managers of SNAP-authorized retailers. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted with managers (n = 23) of grocery stores/supermarkets in urban and rural areas across four different states: TN, KY, NC, and NY. Grocery store managers offering online ordering (n = 15) and managers from brick-and-mortar stores without online services (n = 8) participated in the interviews. Three primary themes emerged among managers offering online ordering: (1) order fulfillment challenges, (2) perceived customer barriers, and (3) perceived customer benefits. Among managers at brick-and-mortar locations without online services, four major themes emerged: (1) thoughts on implementing online shopping, (2) COVID-19 pandemic impacts, (3) competition with other stores, and (4) benefits of maintaining brick-and-mortar shopping. This study provides a deeper understanding of retailers’ experience and perceptions of online grocery services among stores authorized to accept SNAP benefits. This perspective is necessary to inform policies and enhance the evolving virtual food marketplace for SNAP customers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Gillespie
- Family and Consumer Sciences Extension, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-859-257-7793
| | - Emily DeWitt
- Family and Consumer Sciences Extension, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
| | - Angela C. B. Trude
- Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Lindsey Haynes-Maslow
- Department of Health Policy & Management, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Travis Hudson
- Department of Nutrition, College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| | - Elizabeth Anderson-Steeves
- Department of Nutrition, College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
- Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition, Omaha, NE 68154, USA
| | - Makenzie Barr
- Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
| | - Alison Gustafson
- Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
- College of Nursing, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
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15
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Shier V, Miller S, Datar A. Heterogeneity in grocery shopping patterns among low-income minority women in public housing. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:1612. [PMID: 36002848 PMCID: PMC9404610 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14003-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Public housing residents, who tend to be predominantly female and racial/ethnic minorities, are at a particularly high risk for chronic health conditions. Prior studies have suggested that a lack of access to healthy and affordable food may be an important barrier in public housing communities, but evidence is mixed on the association between the neighborhood food environment and dietary quality, suggesting the need to examine food access patterns in low-income, minority communities more deeply. The purpose of this study was to examine the variability in grocery shopping patterns, and the factors that predict them, among low-income minority women in public housing. METHODS Interviewer-administered surveys and body composition measurements were collected in the Watts Neighborhood Health Study, an ongoing longitudinal cohort study of low-income urban public housing residents located in South Los Angeles. Descriptive analyses were conducted to understand the variation in grocery shopping patterns among women. Logistic and ordered logistic regression models were estimated to examine the association between resident characteristics and grocery shopping patterns. RESULTS There was considerable variability in grocery shopping patterns, including the types of grocery stores accessed, distance travelled, frequency of shopping, and reasons behind grocery store choice. Grocery shopping patterns were associated with several participant characteristics, including race/ethnicity, working status, access to a car, income, and education. Hispanic participants were less likely to shop at a supermarket, travel further distances to shop, shop more frequently, and were more likely to prioritize price in their choice of primary grocery store than non-Hispanic Black women participants. CONCLUSIONS There was considerable variability in grocery shopping patterns, even within this low-income, minority community despite access to the same neighborhood food environment. Convenience and quality, in addition to price, were priorities for choice of primary grocery store, and differences by race/ethnicity suggest that initiatives to improve the neighborhood food environment should consider quality of food, cultural factors, and availability of foods desired by the surrounding community, in addition to price and proximity of grocery stores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Shier
- Price School of Public Policy, Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics, University of Southern California, 635 Downey Way, Los Angeles, CA 90089 USA
| | - Sydney Miller
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California, 2001 N Soto St, Los Angeles, CA 90033 USA
| | - Ashlesha Datar
- Center for Economic and Social Research, University of Southern California, 635 Downey Way, Los Angeles, CA 90089 USA
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16
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Trude ACB, Ali SH, Lowery CM, Vedovato GM, Lloyd-Montgomery JM, Hager ER, Black MM. A click too far from fresh foods: A mixed methods comparison of online and in-store grocery behaviors among low-income households. Appetite 2022; 175:106038. [PMID: 35421540 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2022.106038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
A recent policy in the U.S. authorized monthly benefits from a nutrition assistance program - Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) - to be used online to increase grocery access and promote healthy eating. This study examined online grocery attitudes and purchasing behaviors among low-income SNAP-eligible households with young children with and without online grocery experience. An explanatory sequential mixed methods design was used, including a survey informed by the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and focus groups conducted between November-March 2021. In the quantitative phase, 310 Maryland residents completed an online survey assessing TPB constructs (attitudes, social norms, perceived control), and food purchase frequency online and in-store. Subsequently, 42 participated in the qualitative phase. Differences in TPB constructs and food purchases were compared between families with and without online grocery experience. Online food selection and fees were a common obstacle to online grocery purchasing. Families who had purchased groceries online (57%) had more positive attitudes and perceived fewer barriers to online shopping than those who had not. Self-reported frequency of buying fresh produce (OR = 0.34, p < 0.001), meat and seafood (OR = 0.29, p < 0.001), and sweets (OR = 0.54, p = 0.005) were lower online than in-store. Families discussed mistrust of online hired shoppers and fewer impulse purchases online as reasons for less frequent purchases of produce and sweets, respectively. Successful scale-up of the U.S. policy must address barriers to healthier purchasing behaviors to effectively promote equitable food access, such as decreasing delivery fees and improving the online food selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela C B Trude
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, 737 W. Lombard St., Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA; New York University, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, 411 Lafayette St, 5th Floor, New York, NY, 10003, USA.
| | - Shahmir H Ali
- New York University, School of Global Public Health, 708 Broadway, New York, NY, 10003, USA.
| | - Caitlin M Lowery
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, 135 Dauer Dr, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
| | - Gabriela M Vedovato
- Federal University of Sao Paulo, Institute of Health and Society, 136 Silva Jardim, Santos, SP, 11015-020, Brazil.
| | - Joy M Lloyd-Montgomery
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, 737 W. Lombard St., Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA; American Psychiatric Association Foundation, 800 Maine Avenue, S.W., Suite 900, Washington, DC, 20024, USA.
| | - Erin R Hager
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, 737 W. Lombard St., Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA; Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Maureen M Black
- University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, 737 W. Lombard St., Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA; RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA.
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17
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Consavage Stanley K, Harrigan PB, Serrano EL, Kraak VI. A systematic scoping review of the literacy literature to develop a digital food and nutrition literacy model for low-income adults to make healthy choices in the online food retail ecosystem to reduce obesity risk. Obes Rev 2022; 23:e13414. [PMID: 35092142 PMCID: PMC9286643 DOI: 10.1111/obr.13414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Adults with lower incomes are disproportionately affected by poverty, food insecurity, obesity, and diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs). In 2020-2021 amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) expanded the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Online Purchasing Pilot program to enable eligible participants to purchase groceries online in 47 states. This expansion underscores the need for SNAP adults to have digital literacy skills to make healthy dietary choices online. Currently, a digital literacy model does not exist to help guide USDA nutrition assistance policies and programs, such as SNAP. We conducted a systematic scoping review of the academic and gray literature to identify food, nutrition, health, media, financial, and digital literacy models. The search yielded 40 literacy models and frameworks that we analyzed to develop a Multi-dimensional Digital Food and Nutrition Literacy (MDFNL) model with five literacy levels (i.e., functional, interactive, communicative, critical, and translational) and a cross-cutting digital literacy component. Utilization of the MDFNL model within nutrition assistance policies and programs may improve cognitive, behavioral, food security, and health outcomes and support equity, well-being, digital inclusion, and healthy communities to reduce obesity and NCD risks.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paige B Harrigan
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Elena L Serrano
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA.,Virginia Family Nutrition Program, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Vivica I Kraak
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
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18
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Headrick G, Khandpur N, Perez C, Taillie LS, Bleich SN, Rimm EB, Moran A. Content Analysis of Online Grocery Retail Policies and Practices Affecting Healthy Food Access. JOURNAL OF NUTRITION EDUCATION AND BEHAVIOR 2022; 54:219-229. [PMID: 34920967 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2021.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe policies and practices of online grocery retailers that may affect healthy food access, including retailers participating in the US Department of Agriculture's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Online Purchasing Pilot. DESIGN Cross-sectional, quantitative content analysis of 21 online grocery retail websites from November 2019 to January 2020. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Data collected using a coding instrument capturing the presence of policies and practices related to (1) online purchasing and delivery access; (2) availability of features that allow price comparisons and provide nutrition information; and (3) data privacy. ANALYSIS Descriptive statistics for features, practices, and policies across online grocery retail websites. RESULTS Most retailers (95%) added fees to online orders. Among pilot retailers, 38% added ≥ 3 fees, and 50% required a minimum order > $15. Few retailers (29%) displayed Nutrition Facts Labels on all products, including 50% of pilot retailers. All retailers collected personal information from shoppers and automatically shared data with affiliated companies. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS High fees, limited access to nutrition information on retailer sites, and lack of data privacy are prevalent in online grocery retail settings, including among Online Purchasing Pilot retailers. Online retail practices may perpetuate disparities in healthy food access by discouraging use through fees and making nutritious food choices difficult.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabby Headrick
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD.
| | - Neha Khandpur
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA; Department of Nutrition, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Crystal Perez
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - Lindsey Smith Taillie
- Department of Nutrition, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, Caroline Population Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Sara N Bleich
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - Eric B Rimm
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - Alyssa Moran
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
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19
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Pomeranz JL, Cash SB, Springer M, Del Giudice IM, Mozaffarian D. Opportunities to address the failure of online food retailers to ensure access to required food labelling information in the USA. Public Health Nutr 2022; 25:1-9. [PMID: 35067257 PMCID: PMC9991769 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980021004638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The rapid growth in web-based grocery food purchasing has outpaced federal regulatory attention to the online provision of nutrition and allergen information historically required on food product labels. We sought to characterise the extent and variability that online retailers disclose required and regulated information and identify the legal authorities for the federal government to require online food retailers to disclose such information. DESIGN We performed a limited scan of ten products across nine national online retailers and conducted legal research using LexisNexis to analyse federal regulatory agencies' authorities. SETTING USA. PARTICIPANTS N/A. RESULTS The scan of products revealed that required information (Nutrition Facts Panels, ingredient lists, common food allergens and per cent juice for fruit drinks) was present, conspicuous and legible for an average of only 36·5 % of the products surveyed, ranging from 11·4 % for potential allergens to 54·2 % for ingredients lists. More commonly, voluntary nutrition-related claims were prominently and conspicuously displayed (63·5 % across retailers and products). Our legal examination found that the Food and Drug Administration, Federal Trade Commission and United States Department of Agriculture have existing regulatory authority over labelling, online sales and advertising, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programme retailers that can be utilised to address deficiencies in the provision of required information in the online food retail environment. CONCLUSIONS Information regularly provided to consumers in conventional settings is not being uniformly provided online. Congress or the federal agencies can require online food retailers disclose required nutrition and allergen information to support health, nutrition, equity and informed consumer decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sean B Cash
- Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Morgan Springer
- Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Dariush Mozaffarian
- Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA, USA
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20
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Gustafson A, Gillespie R, DeWitt E, Cox B, Dunaway B, Haynes-Maslow L, Steeves EA, Trude ACB. Online Pilot Grocery Intervention among Rural and Urban Residents Aimed to Improve Purchasing Habits. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:871. [PMID: 35055688 PMCID: PMC8775883 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19020871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Online grocery shopping has the potential to improve access to food, particularly among low-income households located in urban food deserts and rural communities. The primary aim of this pilot intervention was to test whether a three-armed online grocery trial improved fruit and vegetable (F&V) purchases. Rural and urban adults across seven counties in Kentucky, Maryland, and North Carolina were recruited to participate in an 8-week intervention in fall 2021. A total of 184 adults were enrolled into the following groups: (1) brick-and-mortar "BM" (control participants only received reminders to submit weekly grocery shopping receipts); (2) online-only with no support "O" (participants received weekly reminders to grocery shop online and to submit itemized receipts); and (3) online shopping with intervention nudges "O+I" (participants received nudges three times per week to grocery shop online, meal ideas, recipes, Facebook group support, and weekly reminders to shop online and to submit itemized receipts). On average, reported food spending on F/V by the O+I participants was USD 6.84 more compared to the BM arm. Online shopping with behavioral nudges and nutrition information shows great promise for helping customers in diverse locations to navigate the increasing presence of online grocery shopping platforms and to improve F&V purchases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Gustafson
- Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA; (B.C.); (B.D.)
| | - Rachel Gillespie
- Department of Family and Consumer Sciences Extension, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA; (R.G.); (E.D.)
| | - Emily DeWitt
- Department of Family and Consumer Sciences Extension, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA; (R.G.); (E.D.)
| | - Brittany Cox
- Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA; (B.C.); (B.D.)
| | - Brynnan Dunaway
- Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA; (B.C.); (B.D.)
| | - Lindsey Haynes-Maslow
- Agricultural & Human Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA;
| | | | - Angela C. B. Trude
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, New York University, New York City, NY 10003, USA;
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21
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Gittelsohn J, Kasprzak CM, Hill AB, Sundermeir SM, Laska MN, Dombrowski RD, DeAngelo J, Odoms-Young A, Leone LA. Increasing Healthy Food Access for Low-Income Communities: Protocol of the Healthy Community Stores Case Study Project. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:690. [PMID: 35055512 PMCID: PMC8775718 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19020690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Improving healthy food access in low-income communities continues to be a public health challenge. One strategy for improving healthy food access has been to introduce community food stores, with the mission of increasing healthy food access; however, no study has explored the experiences of different initiatives and models in opening and sustaining healthy food stores. This study used a case study approach to understand the experiences of healthy food stores in low-income communities. The purpose of this paper is to describe the methodology used and protocol followed. A case study approach was used to describe seven healthy food stores across urban settings in the U.S. Each site individually coded their cases, and meetings were held to discuss emerging and cross-cutting themes. A cross-case analysis approach was used to produce a series of papers detailing the results of each theme. Most case studies were on for-profit, full-service grocery stores, with store sizes ranging from 900 to 65,000 square feet. Healthy Food Availability scores across sites ranged from 11.6 (low) to 26.5 (high). The papers resulting from this study will detail the key findings of the case studies and will focus on the challenges, strategies, and experiences of retail food stores attempting to improve healthy food access for disadvantaged communities. The work presented in this special issue will help to advance research in the area of community food stores, and the recommendations can be used by aspiring, new, and current community food store owners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel Gittelsohn
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA;
| | - Christina M. Kasprzak
- Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA; (C.M.K.); (L.A.L.)
- Community Health Interventions Lab, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Alex B. Hill
- Urban Studies and Planning and Detroit Food Map Initiative, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA;
| | - Samantha M. Sundermeir
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA;
| | - Melissa N. Laska
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA;
| | - Rachael D. Dombrowski
- Division of Kinesiology, Health and Sport Studies, College of Education, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA;
| | - Julia DeAngelo
- Departments of Health Policy Management & Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - Angela Odoms-Young
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, College of Human Ecology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA;
| | - Lucia A. Leone
- Department of Community Health and Health Behavior, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA; (C.M.K.); (L.A.L.)
- Community Health Interventions Lab, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
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22
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Abstract
Context Online grocery services are an emerging component of the food system with the potential to address disparities in access to healthy food. Objective We assessed the barriers and facilitators of equitable access to healthy foods in the online grocery environment, and the psychosocial, purchasing, and dietary behaviors related to its use among low-income, diverse populations. Data Sources Four electronic databases were searched to identify relevant literature; 16 studies were identified. Results Barriers to equitable access to healthy food included cost and limited availability of online grocery services in food deserts and rural areas. The expansion of online grocery services and the ability to use nutrition assistance benefits online were equity-promoting factors. Perceived low control over food selection was a psychosocial factor that discouraged online grocery use, whereas convenience and lower perceived stress were facilitators. Findings were mixed regarding healthfulness of foods purchased online. Although few studies assessed diet, healthy food consumption was associated with online grocery use. Conclusion Researchers should assess the impact of online grocery shopping on low-income families’ food purchases and diet. Systematic Review Registration PROSPERO registration no. CRD: 42021240277
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela C B Trude
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- A.C.B. Trude, 411 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10003, USA. E-mail:
| | - Caitlin M Lowery
- Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Shahmir H Ali
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, New York University School of Global Public Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Gabriela M Vedovato
- Institute of Health and Society, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Santos, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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Savin K, Morales A, Levi R, Alvarez D, Seligman H. "Now I Feel a Little Bit More Secure": The Impact of SNAP Enrollment on Older Adult SSI Recipients. Nutrients 2021; 13:4362. [PMID: 34959914 PMCID: PMC8707609 DOI: 10.3390/nu13124362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In June 2019, California expanded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries for the first time. This research assesses the experience and impact of new SNAP enrollment among older adult SSI recipients, a population characterized by social and economic precarity. We conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 20 SNAP participants to explore their experiences with new SNAP benefits. Following initial coding, member-check groups allowed for participants to provide feedback on preliminary data analysis. Findings demonstrate that SNAP enrollment improved participants' access to nutritious foods of their choice, contributed to overall budgets, eased mental distress resulting from poverty, and reduced labor spent accessing food. For some participants, SNAP benefit amounts were too low to make any noticeable impact. For many participants, SNAP receipt was associated with stigma, which some considered to be a social "cost" of poverty. Increased benefit may be derived from pairing SNAP with other public benefits. Together, the impacts of and barriers to effective use of SNAP benefits gleaned from this study deepen our understanding of individual- and neighborhood-level factors driving health inequities among low-income, disabled people experiencing food insecurity and SNAP recipients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Savin
- School of Social Welfare, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94709, USA
- MSW Program, School of Health Sciences, University of the Pacific, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Alena Morales
- Department of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94709, USA;
| | - Ronli Levi
- Center for Vulnerable Populations, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (R.L.); (H.S.)
| | - Dora Alvarez
- School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA;
- School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Hilary Seligman
- Center for Vulnerable Populations, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (R.L.); (H.S.)
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Jenneson VL, Pontin F, Greenwood DC, Clarke GP, Morris MA. A systematic review of supermarket automated electronic sales data for population dietary surveillance. Nutr Rev 2021; 80:1711-1722. [PMID: 34757399 PMCID: PMC9086796 DOI: 10.1093/nutrit/nuab089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Context Most dietary assessment methods are limited by self-report biases, how long they take for participants to complete, and cost of time for dietitians to extract content. Electronically recorded, supermarket-obtained transactions are an objective measure of food purchases, with reduced bias and improved timeliness and scale. Objective The use, breadth, context, and utility of electronic purchase records for dietary research is assessed and discussed in this systematic review. Data sources Four electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Global Health) were searched. Included studies used electronically recorded supermarket transactions to investigate the diet of healthy, free-living adults. Data extraction Searches identified 3422 articles, of which 145 full texts were retrieved and 72 met inclusion criteria. Study quality was assessed using the National Institutes of Health Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies. Data analysis Purchase records were used in observational studies, policy evaluations, and experimental designs. Nutrition outcomes included dietary patterns, nutrients, and food category sales. Transactions were linked to nutrient data from retailers, commercial data sources, and national food composition databases. Conclusion Electronic sales data have the potential to transform dietary assessment and worldwide understanding of dietary behavior. Validation studies are warranted to understand limits to agreement and extrapolation to individual-level diets. Systematic Review Registration PROSPERO registration no. CRD42018103470
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria L Jenneson
- V.L. Jenneson, F. Pontin, D.C. Greenwood, and M.A. Morris are with the Leeds Institute for Data Analytics, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom. V.L. Jenneson, F. Pontin, and G.P. Clarke are with the School of Geography, Faculty of Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom. D.C. Greenwood and M.A. Morris are with the School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Francesca Pontin
- V.L. Jenneson, F. Pontin, D.C. Greenwood, and M.A. Morris are with the Leeds Institute for Data Analytics, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom. V.L. Jenneson, F. Pontin, and G.P. Clarke are with the School of Geography, Faculty of Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom. D.C. Greenwood and M.A. Morris are with the School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Darren C Greenwood
- V.L. Jenneson, F. Pontin, D.C. Greenwood, and M.A. Morris are with the Leeds Institute for Data Analytics, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom. V.L. Jenneson, F. Pontin, and G.P. Clarke are with the School of Geography, Faculty of Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom. D.C. Greenwood and M.A. Morris are with the School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Graham P Clarke
- V.L. Jenneson, F. Pontin, D.C. Greenwood, and M.A. Morris are with the Leeds Institute for Data Analytics, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom. V.L. Jenneson, F. Pontin, and G.P. Clarke are with the School of Geography, Faculty of Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom. D.C. Greenwood and M.A. Morris are with the School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Michelle A Morris
- V.L. Jenneson, F. Pontin, D.C. Greenwood, and M.A. Morris are with the Leeds Institute for Data Analytics, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom. V.L. Jenneson, F. Pontin, and G.P. Clarke are with the School of Geography, Faculty of Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom. D.C. Greenwood and M.A. Morris are with the School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
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25
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Fernandez MA, Raine KD. Digital Food Retail: Public Health Opportunities. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13113789. [PMID: 34836044 PMCID: PMC8624168 DOI: 10.3390/nu13113789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 10/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
For over two decades, digital food retail services have been emerging alongside advances in mobile technology and improved access to wi-fi. Digitalization has driven changes within the food environment, complicating an already complex system that influences food-related behaviors and eating practices. Digital food retail services support an infrastructure that enhances commercial food systems by extending access to and availability of highly processed foods, further escalating poor dietary intakes. However, digital food retail services are heterogeneous–food delivery apps, online groceries, and meal kits–and can be feasibly adapted to nutrition interventions and personalized to individual needs. Although sparse, new evidence indicates great potential for digital food retail services to address food insecurity in urban areas and to support healthy eating by making it easier to select, plan, and prepare meals. Digital food retail services are a product of the digital transformation that reflect consumers’ constant need for convenience, which must be addressed in future research and interventions. This paper will discuss public health opportunities that are emerging from the global uptake of digital food retail services, with a focus on online groceries, food delivery apps, and meal kits.
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Zatz LY, Moran AJ, Franckle RL, Block JP, Hou T, Blue D, Greene JC, Gortmaker S, Bleich SN, Polacsek M, Thorndike AN, Mande JR, Rimm EB. Comparing shopper characteristics by online grocery ordering use among households in low-income communities in Maine. Public Health Nutr 2021; 24:5127-5132. [PMID: 34030759 PMCID: PMC11082826 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980021002238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 04/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Online grocery shopping could improve access to healthy food, but it may not be equally accessible to all populations - especially those at higher risk for food insecurity. The current study aimed to compare the socio-demographic characteristics of families who ordered groceries online v. those who only shopped in-store. DESIGN We analysed enrollment survey and 44 weeks of individually linked grocery transaction data. We used univariate χ2 and t-tests and logistic regression to assess differences in socio-demographic characteristics between households that only shopped in-store and those that shopped online with curbside pickup (online only or online and in-store). SETTING Two Maine supermarkets. PARTICIPANTS 863 parents or caregivers of children under 18 years old enrolled in two fruit and vegetable incentive trials. RESULTS Participants had a total of 32 757 transactions. In univariate assessments, online shoppers had higher incomes (P < 0 0001), were less likely to participate in Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP; P < 0 0001) and were more likely to be female (P = 0·04). Most online shoppers were 30-39 years old, and few were 50 years or older (P = 0·003). After controlling for age, gender, race/ethnicity, number of children, number of adults, income and SNAP participation, female primary shoppers (OR = 2·75, P = 0·003), number of children (OR = 1·27, P = 0·04) and income (OR = 3·91 for 186-300 % federal poverty line (FPL) and OR = 6·92 for >300 % FPL, P < 0·0001) were significantly associated with likelihood of shopping online. CONCLUSIONS In the current study of Maine families, low-income shoppers were significantly less likely to utilise online grocery ordering with curbside pickup. Future studies could focus on elucidating barriers and developing strategies to improve access.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Y Zatz
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA02115, USA
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alyssa J Moran
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Rebecca L Franckle
- Program in Global Public Health and the Common Good, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jason P Block
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tao Hou
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA02115, USA
| | - Dan Blue
- Hannaford Marketing, Hannaford Supermarkets, Scarborough, ME, USA
| | | | - Steven Gortmaker
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sara N Bleich
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michele Polacsek
- Westbrook College of Health Professions, University of New England, Portland, ME, USA
| | - Anne N Thorndike
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jerold R Mande
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA02115, USA
| | - Eric B Rimm
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA02115, USA
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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Carman K, Sweeney LH, House LA, Mathews AE, Shelnutt KP. Acceptability and Willingness to Pay for a Meal Kit Program for African American Families with Low Income: A Pilot Study. Nutrients 2021; 13:nu13082881. [PMID: 34445040 PMCID: PMC8398692 DOI: 10.3390/nu13082881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Food insecurity is a persistent issue among individuals with low income and is associated with various nutrition- and health-related consequences. Creative approaches to increasing food access should be investigated as possible solutions. Meal kits, which are boxes or bags of fresh and shelf-stable ingredients for one or more meals, along with a step-by-step recipe showing how to cook each meal at home, may serve as a creative solution. Meal kits have historically been marketed to higher-income demographics. The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the utilization, acceptability, and willingness to pay for a healthy meal kit program among African American main food preparers with children and low income (n = 36). Participants received a healthy meal kit with three recipes and ingredients, a cooking incentive, and a nutrition handout weekly for six weeks. Data were collected on participants’ use, acceptability, and willingness to pay for the meal kits and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The intervention was highly utilized, and participants reported high acceptability ratings for most recipes. After the intervention, participants were willing to pay $88.61 ± 47.47 for a meal kit with three meals, each with four portions, which was higher than indicated at baseline and similar to the cost to produce the kits. Meal kits may offer a creative solution to improving food access if affordable for families with low income.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaley Carman
- Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA;
| | - Lauren H. Sweeney
- Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (L.H.S.); (A.E.M.)
| | - Lisa A. House
- Food and Resource Economics Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA;
| | - Anne E. Mathews
- Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; (L.H.S.); (A.E.M.)
| | - Karla P. Shelnutt
- Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-35-2273-3535
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Consavage Stanley K, Harrigan PB, Serrano EL, Kraak VI. Applying a Multi-Dimensional Digital Food and Nutrition Literacy Model to Inform Research and Policies to Enable Adults in the U.S. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to Make Healthy Purchases in the Online Food Retail Ecosystem. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18168335. [PMID: 34444084 PMCID: PMC8394533 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18168335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The United States (U.S.) Department of Agriculture (USDA)-administered Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) made substantial changes in response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. These changes highlight the need to identify the digital literacy skills and capacities of SNAP adults to purchase healthy groceries online. We conducted a scoping review of four electronic databases, Google and Google Scholar to identify studies that measured food and nutrition literacy outcomes for U.S. adults. We applied a multi-dimensional digital food and nutrition literacy (MDFNL) model to assess six literacy levels and components. Of 18 studies published from 2006-2021, all measured functional and interactive literacy but no study measured communicative, critical, translational, or digital literacy. Six studies examined SNAP or SNAP-Education outcomes. Adults with higher food or nutrition literacy scores had better cognitive, behavioral, food security and health outcomes. We suggest how these findings may inform research, policies, and actions to strengthen the multi-dimensional literacy skills of SNAP participants and SNAP-eligible adults to support healthy purchases in the online food retail ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Consavage Stanley
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; (P.B.H.); (E.L.S.); (V.I.K.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-540-231-9638
| | - Paige B. Harrigan
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; (P.B.H.); (E.L.S.); (V.I.K.)
| | - Elena L. Serrano
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; (P.B.H.); (E.L.S.); (V.I.K.)
- Virginia Family Nutrition Program, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Vivica I. Kraak
- Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech), Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA; (P.B.H.); (E.L.S.); (V.I.K.)
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Zimmer M, McElrone M, Anderson Steeves ET. Feasibility and Acceptability of a "Click & Collect" WIC Online Ordering Pilot. J Acad Nutr Diet 2021; 121:2464-2474.e1. [PMID: 34219049 DOI: 10.1016/j.jand.2021.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Barriers to shopping for foods in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) have been reported. Online ordering options may improve the WIC shopping experience but are understudied. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to test feasibility and acceptability of a "Click & Collect" model for WIC online ordering from the perspective of WIC participants. DESIGN A Click & Collect online ordering model was adapted to the WIC program and implemented at 1 grocery store. In the Click & Collect model, WIC participants placed an online order ("click"), then completed payment and pickup at the store ("collect"). PARTICIPANTS/SETTING Twenty-five WIC participants in East Tennessee were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Feasibility was assessed by examining online order summaries and store receipts to determine whether WIC transactions were completed successfully. Acceptability was assessed by qualitative semi-structured interviews conducted with WIC participants after participating in the pilot. ANALYSES PERFORMED Descriptive statistics were used to analyze sociodemographic and purchase data in SPSS software, version 27. Qualitative interviews were transcribed and analyzed for themes using directed content analysis in NVivo, version 12.0. RESULTS All WIC participants in the study placed an online order, and 96% picked up the order, indicating a high degree of feasibility. In follow-up qualitative interviews, WIC participants reported interest in the Click & Collect model, and provided suggestions to improve practicality across the following 4 primary themes: website experience, curbside pickup, online shopping fee, and shopping preferences. CONCLUSIONS The pilot was successfully implemented at 1 store. Click & Collect online ordering was feasible and acceptable to WIC participants, although additional work is needed to make it practical. Online shopping options for the WIC program should be further explored to expand access to nutritious WIC foods in families with low income.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan Zimmer
- (1)National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute. At the time of the study, she was a student, department of public health, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
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Zimmer MC, Beaird J, Steeves ETA. WIC Participants' Perspectives About Online Ordering and Technology in the WIC Program. JOURNAL OF NUTRITION EDUCATION AND BEHAVIOR 2021; 53:602-607. [PMID: 33132035 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2020.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to assess the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) participants' perceptions about ordering WIC groceries online. METHODS Qualitative semistructured interviews were conducted with 24 WIC participants in East Tennessee from May to October 2019. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using a grounded theory approach. RESULTS Participants were interested in online ordering and spoke favorably about delivery and pickup options. Participants were willing to pay $2-5 to order online, though they were more willing to pay for a home or curbside delivery than an in-store pickup. Participants suggested additional ways to integrate technology into WIC food retail operations, such as providing benefit balances via text message and developing a mobile phone application for Tennessee WIC. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Findings can inform pilot tests for WIC online ordering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan C Zimmer
- Department of Nutrition, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; Department of Public Health, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
| | - Jacob Beaird
- Department of Nutrition, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
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31
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Zatz LY, Moran AJ, Franckle RL, Block JP, Hou T, Blue D, Greene JC, Gortmaker S, Bleich SN, Polacsek M, Thorndike AN, Rimm EB. Comparing Online and In-Store Grocery Purchases. JOURNAL OF NUTRITION EDUCATION AND BEHAVIOR 2021; 53:471-479. [PMID: 34116742 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2021.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe the grocery shopping patterns of people who shopped both online and in-store and evaluate whether shoppers purchased fewer unhealthy, impulse-sensitive items online. DESIGN Secondary analysis of 44 weeks of grocery transaction data collected for fruit and vegetable incentive trials in 2 Maine supermarkets. PARTICIPANTS A total of 137 primary household shoppers who shopped at least once in-store and online (curbside pickup) for 5,573 total transactions MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES AND ANALYSIS: Paired t tests and descriptive analyses compared online and in-store transactions with respect to frequency, total spending, number of items purchased, and spending on 10 food groups and 34 subgroups. Mixed-effects regression models estimated differences in online vs in-store spending on 5 unhealthy, impulse-sensitive subgroups. RESULTS When shopping online, participants spent 44% more per transaction ($113.58 vs $78.88, P < 0.001) and purchased more items (38.3 vs 26.6 items/transaction, P < 0.001). Compared with in-store, shopping online was associated with reduced spending per transaction on candy (-$0.65, P < 0.001), cold or frozen desserts (-$0.52, P < 0.001), and grain-based desserts (-$1.29, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Online shopping was associated with lower spending on certain unhealthy, impulse-sensitive foods. Grocery-based healthy eating initiatives might leverage online ordering platforms to increase their reach and effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Y Zatz
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA; Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA.
| | - Alyssa J Moran
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - Rebecca L Franckle
- Program for Global Public Health and the Common Good, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA
| | - Jason P Block
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Tao Hou
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - Dan Blue
- Hannaford Marketing, Hannaford Supermarkets, Scarborough, ME
| | | | - Steven Gortmaker
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - Sara N Bleich
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - Michele Polacsek
- Westbrook College of Health Professions, University of New England, Portland, ME
| | - Anne N Thorndike
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Eric B Rimm
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA; Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
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Harnack L, Redden J, French S, Sherwood NE, Rivera G, Valluri S, Tahir M. Designing online grocery stores to support healthy eating for weight loss. Public Health Nutr 2021; 25:1-11. [PMID: 33634775 PMCID: PMC8387504 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980021000896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The current study aimed to identify features to include in online grocery stores to support healthful food purchasing by those striving to lose weight. DESIGN A Value Proposition Design approach was used to gain shopper insights, devise potential online grocery store features and obtain feedback on these features. SETTING Telephone interviews were conducted to gain insight into shoppers' needs and perceptions. Results were used by the research team to identify potential online grocery shopping features that may support healthful purchase decisions, and interviews were conducted with a different sample of shoppers to gather feedback on features. PARTICIPANTS Insight (n 25) and feedback (n 25) interviews were conducted with convenience samples of adults trying to lose weight. RESULTS Participants were primarily female, white, college educated and with obesity or overweight. Online grocery features devised by the research team based on findings from the insight interviews included (1) shopping cart nutrition rating tool; (2) healthy meal planning tool; (3) interactive healthy eating inspiration aisle and (4) healthy shopping preference settings option. Findings from the feedback interviews indicated that the healthy meal planning tool, healthy shopping preference settings option and shopping cart nutrition rating tool features were positively rated by most participants. CONCLUSIONS There are multiple features grocers should consider including in their online stores to attract and support customers striving to eat healthy for weight loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Harnack
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 1300 South 2nd St., Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA
| | - Joseph Redden
- Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Simone French
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 1300 South 2nd St., Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA
| | - Nancy E Sherwood
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 1300 South 2nd St., Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA
| | - Gabrielle Rivera
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 1300 South 2nd St., Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA
| | - Sruthi Valluri
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 1300 South 2nd St., Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA
| | - Muna Tahir
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 1300 South 2nd St., Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA
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Locher I, Waselewski M, Sonneville K, Resnicow K, Chang T. Grocery Delivery of Healthy Foods to Pregnant Young Women With Low Incomes: Feasibility and Acceptability Mixed Methods Study. JMIR Form Res 2020; 4:e21602. [PMID: 33361055 PMCID: PMC7790606 DOI: 10.2196/21602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Poor maternal diets increase the risk of excess gestational weight gain which can contribute to serious intergenerational morbidity for both the mother and infant. Pregnant young women with low incomes have disproportionately high rates of inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption as well as excess weight gains during pregnancy. OBJECTIVE Our aim was to describe the feasibility and acceptability of Special Delivery, a longitudinal nutrition intervention that delivers healthy foods to pregnant youth (aged 14-24 years) with low incomes. METHODS The Special Delivery pilot study, conducted in Michigan, enrolled pregnant young women with low incomes. Study participants were sent twice-monthly grocery deliveries consisting of US $35 worth of healthy foods, primarily fruits and vegetables. Between grocery deliveries, participants received daily SMS text message prompts to confirm receipt of delivery and document diet and weight. Program feasibility was assessed by the number of grocery orders placed, delivered, and confirmed by participants. Qualitative interviews and SMS text message data were used to determine acceptability by assessing participants' perspectives on grocery delivery, participants' perspectives on dietary impact of the program, and foods consumed by participants. RESULTS A total of 27 participants were enrolled in the pilot study. The mean age was 20.3 years (SD 2.0), and 59.3% (16/27) were African American or Black. During the pilot, 263 deliveries were sent with 98.5% (259/263) successful deliveries and 89.4% (235/263) deliveries confirmed by participants. Participants reported that grocery delivery was convenient; that delivered foods were high quality; and that the program improved their diet, increased access to healthy foods, and promoted healthy habits during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS A grocery delivery-based weight gain and nutrition intervention is both feasible and acceptable among low-income pregnant youth. Grocery deliveries were successfully completed and participants were willing and able to receive grocery deliveries, eat the healthy foods that were delivered, and communicate via SMS text message with study coordinators. The Special Delivery program warrants further evaluation for efficacy in promoting healthy weight gain for low-income youth during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ione Locher
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | | | | | - Ken Resnicow
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Tammy Chang
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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Moran AJ, Gu Y, Clynes S, Goheer A, Roberto CA, Palmer A. Associations between Governmental Policies to Improve the Nutritional Quality of Supermarket Purchases and Individual, Retailer, and Community Health Outcomes: An Integrative Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E7493. [PMID: 33076280 PMCID: PMC7602424 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17207493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Supermarkets are natural and important settings for implementing environmental interventions to improve healthy eating, and governmental policies could help improve the nutritional quality of purchases in this setting. This review aimed to: (1) identify governmental policies in the United States (U.S.), including regulatory and legislative actions of federal, tribal, state, and local governments, designed to promote healthy choices in supermarkets; and (2) synthesize evidence of these policies' effects on retailers, consumers, and community health. We searched five policy databases and developed a list of seven policy actions that meet our inclusion criteria: calorie labeling of prepared foods in supermarkets; increasing U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits; financial incentives for the purchase of fruit and vegetables; sweetened beverage taxes; revisions to the USDA Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) food package; financial assistance for supermarkets to open in underserved areas; and allowing online purchases with SNAP. We searched PubMed, Econlit, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Business Source Ultimate to identify peer-reviewed, academic, English-language literature published at any time until January 2020; 147 studies were included in the review. Sweetened beverage taxes, revisions to the WIC food package, and financial incentives for fruits and vegetables were associated with improvements in dietary behaviors (food purchases and/or consumption). Providing financial incentives to supermarkets to open in underserved areas and increases in SNAP benefits were not associated with changes in food purchasing or diet quality but may improve food security. More research is needed to understand the effects of calorie labeling in supermarkets and online SNAP purchasing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa J. Moran
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA;
| | - Yuxuan Gu
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; (Y.G.); (S.C.)
| | - Sasha Clynes
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; (Y.G.); (S.C.)
| | - Attia Goheer
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA;
| | - Christina A. Roberto
- Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA;
| | - Anne Palmer
- Department of Health Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA;
- Center for a Livable Future, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21202, USA
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Olzenak K, French S, Sherwood N, Redden JP, Harnack L. How Online Grocery Stores Support Consumer Nutrition Information Needs. JOURNAL OF NUTRITION EDUCATION AND BEHAVIOR 2020; 52:952-957. [PMID: 33039023 PMCID: PMC7538868 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2020.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the availability of nutrition-related information and features on leading online grocery store Web sites. METHODS Twelve US grocery Web sites were assessed to determine (1) if Nutrition Facts panel or ingredient statements were available for 26 food items; and (2) if options to filter or sort search results by nutrition-related food attributes were available. RESULTS Nutrition Facts panel and ingredient statement information were available for most foods for which this information is required on product packaging (85% of foods). Most stores offered the ability to filter food search results by a nutrition-related food attribute. The ability to sort search results by a nutrition attribute was not an option at any of the stores. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Online grocery stores include a variety of nutrition-related features. However, the Nutrition Facts panel and ingredient statement information are not universally available for foods for which this information is required on product packaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Olzenak
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.
| | - Simone French
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Nancy Sherwood
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Joseph P Redden
- Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Lisa Harnack
- Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
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Online Grocery Shopping by NYC Public Housing Residents Using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Benefits: A Service Ecosystems Perspective. SUSTAINABILITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/su12114694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This paper examines adoption of online grocery shopping, and potential cost and time savings compared to brick and mortar food retailers, by New York City public housing residents using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. A mixed methods action research project involving the co-creation of an online shopping club, the Farragut Food Club (FFC), recruited 300 members who registered to shop online using SNAP, and received waivers on delivery minimums and provided technical assistance and centralized food delivery. We conducted a survey (n = 206) and focus groups to understand shopping practices; FFC members collected receipts of groceries over two weeks before and after the pilot to measure foods purchased, stores patronized, and prices. We interviewed FFC members to elicit experiences with the pilot, and estimated cost differences between products purchased in brick and mortar stores and equivalent products online, and transportation time and cost differences. Online shopping represented a small (2.4%) percentage of grocery spending. Unit prices for products purchased on Amazon ($0.28) were significantly higher than for equivalent products purchased in brick and mortar stores ($0.23) (p < 0.001.) Compatibility with existing routines, low relative advantage, and cost of online products limited the adoption of online shopping among SNAP users.
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Jilcott Pitts SB, Ng SW, Blitstein JL, Gustafson A, Kelley CJ, Pandya S, Weismiller H. Perceived Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Grocery Shopping among Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Participants in Eastern North Carolina. Curr Dev Nutr 2020; 4:nzaa076. [PMID: 32399508 PMCID: PMC7204786 DOI: 10.1093/cdn/nzaa076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
This study's purpose was to qualitatively examine perceived advantages and disadvantages of online grocery shopping among participants (n = 7) in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Initial in-depth, qualitative interviews were conducted, after which participants completed an episode of online grocery shopping, picked up the online order at the store, and completed an in-store shopping episode and a follow-up in-depth interview. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed deductively. Participants stated that in-store impulse purchases occurred at the check-out and cookie aisles and included chips and candy, but sometimes healthier foods such as fruit. Advantages of online grocery shopping included ease, convenience, and saving time. Disadvantages included inadequate substitutions, the online shopping fee, lack of control over selection of perishable goods, and inability to find good deals online versus in the store. Further research is needed to determine how to encourage healthy grocery purchases online.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie B Jilcott Pitts
- Department of Public Health, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Shu Wen Ng
- Department of Nutrition, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Jonathan L Blitstein
- RTI International, Social Policy, Health, and Economic Research Unit, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | | | - Casey J Kelley
- Department of Public Health, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Shivani Pandya
- Department of Public Health, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Hillary Weismiller
- Department of Public Health, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
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Rogus S, Guthrie JF, Niculescu M, Mancino L. Online Grocery Shopping Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviors Among SNAP Participants. JOURNAL OF NUTRITION EDUCATION AND BEHAVIOR 2020; 52:539-545. [PMID: 31870741 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneb.2019.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2019] [Revised: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To inform policy proposals to allow online grocery shopping with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits by examining relevant behaviors, knowledge, and attitudes of SNAP recipients. METHODS This qualitative study used a purposive recruitment strategy to conduct 4 1-hour focus groups in Las Cruces, NM. Participants were SNAP recipients who do the grocery shopping for their families. Focus groups were video and audio recorded, transcribed, and coded. RESULTS Few participants had shopped for groceries online, and participants were generally uninterested in grocery shopping online. Identified barriers were cost, quality control for perishable foods in particular, and distrust of the overall process. Participants expressed interest in suggested services aimed at increasing the benefits of shopping online. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS SNAP recipients in this study have not adopted online grocery shopping for various reasons. Additional research could inform policy by investigating which participants would benefit from using SNAP benefits online and strategies for facilitating use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Rogus
- Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM.
| | - Joanne F Guthrie
- Economic Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC
| | - Mihai Niculescu
- Department of Marketing, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM
| | - Lisa Mancino
- Economic Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC
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Online grocery shopping: promise and pitfalls for healthier food and beverage purchases. Public Health Nutr 2018; 21:3360-3376. [DOI: 10.1017/s1368980018002409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
AbstractObjectives(i) To determine the current state of online grocery shopping, including individuals’ motivations for shopping for groceries online and types of foods purchased; and (ii) to identify the potential promise and pitfalls that online grocery shopping may offer in relation to food and beverage purchases.DesignPubMed, ABI/INFORM and Google Scholar were searched to identify published research.SettingTo be included, studies must have been published between 2007 and 2017 in English, based in the USA or Europe (including the UK), and focused on: (i) motivations for online grocery shopping; (ii) the cognitive/psychosocial domain; and (iii) the community or neighbourhood food environment domain.SubjectsOur search yielded twenty-four relevant papers.ResultsFindings indicate that online grocery shopping can be a double-edged sword. While it has the potential to increase healthy choices via reduced unhealthy impulse purchases, nutrition labelling strategies, and as a method to overcome food access limitations among individuals with limited access to a brick-and-mortar store, it also has the potential to increase unhealthy choices due to reasons such as consumers’ hesitance to purchase fresh produce online.ConclusionsAdditional research is needed to determine the most effective ways to positively engage customers to use online grocery shopping to make healthier choices.
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