A Descriptive Analysis of Redemption Patterns by Vendor Type Among: WIC Participants in Massachusetts

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children Participant Grocery Store Purchases during the COVID-19 Pandemic in North Carolina

“…This study adds to the growing literature documenting shifts in food behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic by describing purchases of food groups of public health interest among an understudied group, WIC participants, using longitudinal food transaction data from one of the top 2 food retailers in North Carolina [ 27 ]. Among consistent WIC shoppers, there were small decreases in the share (%) of total calories purchased at this retailer from FV and small increases in the share of total calories from processed food and SSBs when comparing means in the pre- and postpandemic periods.…”

“…We used loyalty-card food transaction data [ 25 , 26 ] from October 2019 to May of 2021 from 496 stores belonging to 1 of the top 2 food retailers in North Carolina [ 27 ] located in 86 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. Most WIC benefits are redeemed at large grocery stores, and this retailer is the preferred retailer by WIC participants in North Carolina due to clear shelf labeling [17; unpublished analysis of Nielsen Homescan Consumer Panel Data].…”