The role of food parcel use on dietary intake: perception of Dutch food bank recipients - a focus group study

The nutritional quality of food parcels provided by food banks and the effectiveness of food banks at reducing food insecurity in developed countries: a mixed-method systematic review

BACKGROUND

Research indicates that food parcels provided by food banks are nutritionally poor. Food insecurity and the use of food banks are both rising, with detrimental effects on the dietary intake and health of users. This mixed-method systematic review aims to investigate the current nutritional adequacy of pre-packaged food parcels and whether using food banks reduces the food insecurity and improves the dietary intake of their users.

METHODS

A mixed-method systematic literature review, restricted to articles published from 2015, was conducted using eight electronic databases, four grey literature databases and eight relevant websites. Quantitative findings, investigating the nutritional quality of food parcels and/or their impact on dietary intake or food insecurity, were presented narratively. Qualitative findings reporting the views of food bank users regarding food from food banks underwent thematic synthesis. These independent syntheses were integrated using configurative analysis and presented narratively.

RESULTS

Of 2189 articles, 11 quantitative and 10 qualitative were included. Food parcels were inconsistent at meeting nutritional requirements and often failed to meet individual needs, including cultural and health preferences. Using food banks improved food security and dietary quality of users, allowing otherwise unachievable access to food. However, food insecurity remained, and is explained by limited food variety, quality and choice. The mixed-method findings support interventions to ensure consistent, adequate nutrition at food banks, including catering for individual needs.

CONCLUSIONS

Food banks are a lifeline for those severely food insecure. However when used alone, food banks struggle to eliminate the heightened food insecurity of their users. Efforts to improve the nutritional quality of food parcels could improve the experiences and diet-related outcomes of those requiring food banks.

Experiences and perceptions of nutritional health and wellbeing amongst food insecure women in Europe: A qualitative meta-ethnography

Since the 2008 global financial crisis, there has been a rise in the number of people experiencing food insecurity. Particularly vulnerable are mothers with young children, pregnant women, and lone parents (the majority of whom are women). This systematic review and meta-ethnography of qualitative studies focused on women's experiences of food insecurity and how it affects their nutritional health and wellbeing. Six electronic databases (Medline, Scopus, Web of Science, EMBASE, CINAHL and ASSIA), were searched from January 1, 2008-July 10, 2021, and supplemented by searches of grey literature databases, relevant websites, examination of reference lists and citation searches. We adhered to PRISMA and eMERGe guidelines to improve the completeness and clarity of meta-ethnographic reporting. Methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme qualitative checklist. We identified 11,589 unique records; we included 23 publications reporting data from 22 unique studies involving 647 women. Data were synthesised according to Noblit & Hare's seven phases of meta-ethnography. We identified two key themes - accessing sufficient food and embodying food insecurity - comprising seven sub-themes. Our meta-ethnography provides a progressive 'storyline' of women's experiences of food insecurity. This includes the ways in which women attempt to access sufficient food, are unable to meet their nutritional needs, and the ways in which this is embedded into their everyday lives and embodied in unhealthful physical, social, and mental nutritional health and wellbeing impacts. Our review emphasises that food insecurity directly and tangibly impacts women's nutritional health and wellbeing. It concludes that there needs to be greater recognition of the psychosocial impact of food insecurity on vulnerable women in addition to its impact on their nutritional health and wellbeing.

[Changes in perceived food insecurity and eating behavior in the Netherlands since the COVID-19-crisis]

In dit onderzoek beschrijven we veranderingen in ervaren voedselzekerheid en eetgewoonten in Nederland sinds het begin van de COVID-19-crisis, hoe deze veranderingen werden ervaren, en welke mogelijkheden werden aangegeven voor een gezonder eetpatroon. Het onderzoek werd uitgevoerd met online vragenlijsten onder volwassenen in Nederland met een relatief lage sociaaleconomische positie (n = 1.033). De resultaten laten veranderingen in ervaren voedselzekerheid zien sinds het begin van de COVID-19-crisis: zowel richting een hogere als een lagere ervaren voedselzekerheid. Ongeveer een vijfde van de deelnemers gaf een veranderd eetpatroon aan sinds het begin van de COVID-19-crisis, terwijl meer dan de helft van de deelnemers met een verminderde voedselzekerheid een veranderd eetpatroon rapporteerde: zij gaven aan minder gezond en minder groente en fruit te eten. Deelnemers met een verminderde voedselzekerheid hadden vaker behoefte aan hulp bij gezonder eten. Een goedkoper voedselaanbod werd gezien als een oplossing, terwijl voedselbankgebruik weinig werd genoemd als mogelijke hulp voor een gezonder eetpatroon. De COVID-19-crisis leidt tot financiële onzekerheid bij veel mensen en ook tot veranderingen in de beschikbaarheid van voedsel – bekende risicofactoren voor een verminderde voedselzekerheid. Daarom benadrukken deze bevindingen de urgentie van maatregelen om voedselzekerheid te verhogen en gepaste hulp en ondersteuning te bieden bij een gezond eetpatroon, vooral voor mensen met een verminderde voedselzekerheid.

Improving the dietary quality of food parcels leads to improved dietary intake in Dutch food bank recipients-effects of a randomized controlled trial

Purpose

Since food banks have a strong influence on recipients’ diets, and seem to have difficulties in supporting healthy diets, improving the dietary quality of food parcels is important. The aim of our study was to assess whether improving the dietary quality of food parcels, using different strategies, can positively impact the actual dietary intake of Dutch food bank recipients.

Methods

This randomized cross-over controlled trial (Trial ID: ISRCTN40554133) with four intervention conditions [(1) Control (standard food parcel), (2) snacks^– (standard food parcel with replacement of unhealthy snacks by staple foods), (3) FV⁺ (standard food parcel plus the recommended daily amount of fruit and vegetables), (4) snacks^– + FV⁺ (standard food parcel with replacement of unhealthy snacks by staple foods plus the recommended daily amount of fruit and vegetables)] included 163 food bank recipients, from three food banks. At baseline, participants filled in a questionnaire. Dietary intake data were collected through 24-h recalls after both intervention conditions at 4 and 8 weeks follow-up. Primary outcome was daily fruit and vegetable intake, secondary outcomes were daily dietary intakes of food groups and nutrients.

Results

Multi-level linear regression analysis, using a two-level model, showed a higher mean daily fruit intake in participants in the FV⁺ condition than in participants in the Control condition (delta (δ): 74 [40.3;107.6] g). Both mean daily fruit and vegetable intake were higher in participants in the Snacks^– + FV⁺ condition than in participants in the Control condition (fruit δ: 81.3 [56.5;106.2] g; vegetables δ: 46.2 [17.5;74.9] g), as well as in the Snacks^– condition (fruit δ: 70.0 [38.8;101.1] g; vegetables δ: 62.2 [26.2; 98.2] g).

Conclusions

This study shows that improving the dietary quality of food parcels can positively impact the dietary intake of Dutch food bank recipients. With this information we can further develop effective strategies that can be easily applied by food banks, to improve dietary intake of food bank recipients.