Promoting Healthier Purchases: Ultraprocessed Food Taxes and Minimally Processed Foods Subsidies for the Low Income

American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 67(1), P. 3 - 14

Published: April 2, 2024

IntroductionFiscal policies can shift relative food prices to encourage the purchase and consumption of minimally processed foods while discouraging unhealthy ultraprocessed foods, high in calories nutrients concern (sodium, sugar, saturated fats), especially for low-income households.MethodsThe 2017–2018 packaged data among U.S. households were used derive household income- composition-specific demand elasticities across 22 beverage categories. Policy simulations, conducted 2022–2023, assessed impact national taxes on purchases, both separately alongside subsidies beverages targeted households. Resultant nutritional implications are reported basis changes purchased concern. In addition, financial federal government projected.ResultsA sugar-based tax sugar-sweetened would lower volume with largest without children. Meanwhile, increase fruit, vegetable, healthier drink purchases substantially increasing calories. Under make larger reductions their absolute calorie taxed than higher-income counterparts, suggesting that these policies, if implemented, could help narrow disparities.ConclusionsLevying foods/beverages offering promote choices Such have potential benefit financially at a relatively low cost annually.

Language: Английский

---

Medium and Message by Mail: A Field Experiment to Promote Low‐Income Assistance Programs

Public Administration Review, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 24, 2025

ABSTRACT Limited awareness impedes take‐up in low‐income utility assistance programs, which often suffer from low uptake. This study uses a field experiment to evaluate direct mail as means of reducing learning burdens and thereby increasing participation financial programs offered by large American sewer utility. Employing conjoint design, we sent customers mailings that varied medium (postcard vs. letter), frequency, color, sender (government nonprofit), message framing (percentage discount dollar savings), language (English English‐Spanish). Compared the control group receiving no mail, significantly increased program inquiries. Notably, postcards were effective letters, sending even one mailing yielded substantial response increase; additional provided minimal benefit. Sender had significant effect. Surprisingly, bilingual resulted slightly lower rates. Our findings suggest mailings, particularly postcards, can help improve income‐qualified public programs.

Language: Английский

---

A Qualitative Exploration of Spanish-Speaking Latina Women’s Experiences Participating in WIC Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 124(7), P. 851 - 863.e5

Published: March 8, 2024

Language: Английский

---

Increased WIC Benefits for Fruits and Vegetables Increases Food Security and Satisfaction Among California Households with Young Children

Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 123(10), P. 1440 - 1448.e1

Published: May 18, 2023

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a critical source of nutrition support young children in low-income families, providing access to healthy foods cash value benefit (CVB) the purchase fruits vegetables (FV). In 2021, WIC CVB increased substantially women aged 1 5 years.To investigate whether or not purchasing FV was associated with greater redemption benefit, satisfaction, household food security, child intake.Longitudinal study participants receiving benefits from May 2021 through 2022. Through 4 years $9/month. $35/month June September changed $24/month starting October 2021.WIC seven sites California one more during follow-up surveys 2022 (N = 1,770).CVB (in US dollars), satisfaction amount (prevalence), security intake (cups per day).Associations issuance following augmentation were assessed using mixed effects regression, associations modified Poisson regression.The significantly satisfaction. At second (May 2022), by 10% (95% CI 7% 12%); total decreased 0.03 c/day -0.06 -0.01) overall sample, but 0.23 0.17 0.29) among lowest baseline intake.This documented children. policy augmenting packages increase had intended effects, lending making permanent.

Language: Английский

---

Increased WIC Cash Value Benefit is Associated with Greater Amount and Diversity of Redeemed Fruits and Vegetables among Participating Households

Current Developments in Nutrition, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 7(9), P. 101986 - 101986

Published: Aug. 3, 2023

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) food packages children ages 1 to 4 y include a cash value benefit (CVB) redeemable fruits vegetables (FVs) with participating vendors. The CVB was increased beginning in June 2021.This study evaluated associations of the augmented amount diversity redeemed FVs.Price look-up codes (PLUs) redemption data determined outcomes including any (any, none), (United States dollars [USD]/mo), percent total (percent) 54 FV commodity groups among cohort 1770 WIC-participating Southern California. Outcomes across all fresh fruits, vegetables, FVs were dollar redeemed, percentage redemption, produce (variety balance items redeemed). Comparisons made between periods (35 USD/mo June-September 2021, 24 October 2021-June 2022) preaugment period (9 2020-May 2021). Associations tested multivariable generalized estimating equation Poisson (any redemption) linear (amount, percent, diversity) regression models.The associated higher prevalence 53 at both 35 compared 9 USD/mo. Redemption during augment periods, modestly greater increases relative observed most commonly tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, peppers, avocados bananas, apples, grapes, limes, melons.The diversity. Data on intake are needed understand dietary impacts increase.

Language: Английский

---

WIC Participants’ Perceptions of the Cash-Value Benefit Increase during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Nutrients, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 14(17), P. 3509 - 3509

Published: Aug. 26, 2022

Recent changes to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Cash-Value Benefit (CVB), which provides participants with money spend on fruits vegetables, have potential reduce disparities in healthy food access insecurity that were exacerbated by COVID-19 pandemic. However, few studies examined how CVB allotment occurred during pandemic influenced WIC participants' perceptions of benefit or their fruit vegetable purchasing consumption. To address this gap, we conducted semi-structured interviews 51 Wilmington, Delaware. Survey measures included demographic questions, Hunger Vital Sign screener, open-ended questions regarding increase its influence Data analyzed using a hybrid inductive deductive coding approach. The results demonstrate higher allotments increased consumption frequency shopping occasions, enhanced dietary variety. Our findings also suggest highly value CVB. Consequently, maintaining could improve nutritional outcomes low-income mothers, infants, children participating WIC.

Language: Английский

---

Associations of Increased WIC Benefits for Fruits and Vegetables With Food Security and Satisfaction by Race and Ethnicity

Preventing Chronic Disease, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 21

Published: March 28, 2024

Preventing Chronic Disease (PCD) is a peer-reviewed electronic journal established by the National Center for Prevention and Health Promotion. PCD provides an open exchange of information knowledge among researchers, practitioners, policy makers, others who strive to improve health public through chronic disease prevention.

Language: Английский

---

Examining the 2021 Cash Value Benefit Increase and WIC Participant Food Purchases

American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 67(6), P. 906 - 915

Published: July 19, 2024

Language: Английский

---

Caregivers’ Perceived Impact of WIC’s Temporary Cash-Value Benefit (CVB) Increases on Fruit and Vegetable Purchasing, Consumption, and Access in Massachusetts

Nutrients, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 14(23), P. 4947 - 4947

Published: Nov. 22, 2022

Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, American Rescue Plan (2021) allowed state agencies of Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) option temporarily increasing Cash-Value Benefit (CVB) fruit vegetable (FV) purchases. To examine impact this enhancement on WIC caregiver experience, MA State Office invited 4600 randomly selected caregivers complete an online survey (February-March 2022). Eligible adults had at least one child, been enrolled a year, were aware increase. Of those who opened screener (n = 545), 58.9% completed it 321). We calculated frequencies reporting increased FV outcomes tested whether responses differed by race/ethnicity, market access, food security. Most perceived CVB increase benefit purchasing (amount quality, 71.0% 55.5%), consumption (offered children personally consumed, 70.1% 63.2%), satisfaction with package (37.1% reported improved satisfaction, pre- vs. post-increase). Probability was not found differ or increases may pose important implications dietary behaviors WIC. Policymakers should consider making permanent.

Language: Английский

---

Improving Fruit and Vegetable Accessibility, Purchasing, and Consumption to Advance Nutrition Security and Health Equity in the United States

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 19(18), P. 11220 - 11220

Published: Sept. 7, 2022

In recent years, national and local efforts to improve diet health in the United States have stressed importance of nutrition security, which emphasizes consistent access foods beverages that promote prevent disease among all individuals. At core this endeavor is fruit vegetable (FV) consumption, a dietary practice integral attaining sustaining healthy diet. Unfortunately, significant inequities FV accessibility, purchasing, consumption exist, particularly populations are socially economically disadvantaged. To achieve equity States, field must center goal security initiatives aim increase specifically, future work. The International Journal Environmental Research Public Health (IJERPH) Special Issue titled "Nutrition Equity: Revisiting Importance Fruit Vegetable Availability, Purchasing, Consumption" features several scholarly publications from experts conducting timely research on these topics. commentary, we (1) summarize U.S.-based literature (2) describe how contributions IJERPH special issue can advance equity, (3) outline questions our perspective.

Language: Английский

---