Refining and implementing the Food Assortment Scoring Tool (FAST) in food pantries

Caspi, Caitlin E.; Grannon, Katherine Y.; Wang, Qi; Nanney, Marilyn S.; King, Robert P.

doi:10.1017/s1368980018001362

Cited by 27 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Additional questions were asked to assess the patients’ level of use of food shelves. Two of these questions derived from a pilot study by Caspi et al to examine the frequency of patients’ food shelf use [24]. The first question asked, “In the last month, about what portion of all your food was obtained from food shelves?” The second question was the same, but referenced the last 6 months.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining Colorectal Cancer Risk Awareness and Food Shelf Use Among Health Center Patients

Obidike

Rogers

Caspi

2019

J. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities

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Objective. To employ the Colorectal Cancer Risk Awareness for Public Health Prevention (CRC-PHP) survey to examine how food shelf use and other covariates predict awareness of colorectal cancer (CRC) risk factors among patients of a Federally Qualified Health Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Secondary aims included describing the demographic and chronic-disease characteristics of the patient population and assessing their general knowledge of additional CRC risk factors and intent to make healthy food selections in the near future. Methods. Measures included CRC risk awareness, food shelf use, chronic-disease status, and intent to select healthy food options. Regression models and Chi-square tests of independence were employed to examine differences among food shelf users and non-users. Results. Among the 103 patients surveyed, 29% reported using a food shelf in the last 12 months. 47% of food shelf users and 38% of non-users reported having at least 1 diet-related condition (e.g., type 2 diabetes mellitus). Food shelf users scored 1.2 points higher than non-users, on average, on the CRC risk-factor awareness scale. They also answered more survey questions correctly regarding fruit and vegetable intake and its effect on CRC risk (p=0.035). Most participants reported being likely to purchase health-promoting foods in the future. In addition, participants reported being likely to select foods that were labeled as protective against CRC. Conclusions. Behavioral interventions exist that are focused on preventing and managing type II diabetes among food shelf users. Building off such interventions and incorporating behavioral economics components (such as nudges and product labels) has the potential to reduce food shelf customers’ heightened risk and management of CRC.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining Colorectal Cancer Risk Awareness and Food Shelf Use Among Health Center Patients

Obidike

Rogers

Caspi

2019

J. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities

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“…Three additional subcomponents (sodium, refined grains and empty calories) are reverse coded so that higher scores indicate better alignment with standards. Data collection, data entry and HEI-2010 scoring were based on protocols previously used by the principal investigator (44) . The HEI-2010 is a good instrument for the food pantry setting, as clients usually obtain a balance of items that contribute to all (or most) of the sub-categories.…”

Section: Client Measuresmentioning

confidence: 99%

A behavioural economics approach to improving healthy food selection among food pantry clients

Caspi

Canterbury

Carlson

et al. 2019

Public Health Nutr.

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ObjectiveTo test the effect of a behavioural economics intervention in two food pantries on the nutritional quality of foods available at the pantries and the foods selected by adults visiting food pantries.DesignAn intervention (SuperShelf) was implemented in two food pantries (Sites A and B), with two other pantries (Sites C and D) serving as a control for pantry outcomes. The intervention aimed to increase the amount and variety of healthy foods (supply), as well as the appeal of healthy foods (demand) using behavioural economics strategies. Assessments included baseline and 4-month follow-up client surveys, client cart inventories, pantry inventories and environmental assessments. A fidelity score (range 0–100) was assigned to each intervention pantry to measure the degree of implementation. A Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010) score (range 0–100) was generated for each client cart and pantry.SettingFour Minnesota food pantries, USA.ParticipantsClients visiting intervention pantries before (n 71) and after (n 70) the intervention.ResultsFidelity scores differed by intervention site (Site A=82, Site B=51). At Site A, in adjusted models, client cart HEI-2010 scores increased on average by 11·8 points (P<0·0001), whereas there was no change at Site B. HEI-2010 pantry environment scores increased in intervention pantries (Site A=8 points, Site B=19 points) and decreased slightly in control pantries (Site C=−4 points, Site D=−3 points).ConclusionsWhen implemented as intended, SuperShelf has the potential to improve the nutritional quality of foods available to and selected by pantry clients.

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“…Capabilityenhancing efforts have included training and workshops focused on volunteer recruitment, fund raising, grant writing, outreach to diverse populations, community gardening projects, and best practices for managing food distribution chains (Capital Area Food Bank, n.d.; Edwards, 2014; Northern Illinois Food Bank, 2016; The Global Food Banking Network, 2018). Awareness of the importance of nutrition policies (including the provision of nutrition education and healthful foods) as a vehicle to promote food pantry capabilities is evidenced by recent research on this topic (Caspi, Grannon, Wang, Nanney, & King, 2018;Martin, Wolff, Callahan, & Schwartz, 2018;Wetherill et al, 2019).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Throughout the report, a focus on community assets and strengths, rather than community deficiencies, is encouraged (Hawaii Alliance for Community Based Economic Development, 2016). Caspi et al (2018) recognized the need to assess the nutritional quality of food distributed by food pantries. The researchers developed the FAST (Food Assortment Scoring Tool), a 13-item tool to score the overall nutrient content of food selected by food pantry clients.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The FAST was compared with the Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010), a tool developed by the United States Department of Agriculture to compare particular eating patterns' adherence to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (USDA Food and Nutrition Service, 2019). The researchers found that the FAST correlated well with the Healthy Eating Index-2010 and was feasible and easy to use in reallife food pantry settings (Caspi et al, 2018). While the nutritive value of foods provided is an important aspect of food pantry operations, FAST does not evaluate overall food pantry operations.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The North Carolina Food Pantry Organizational Capability and Mapping Study: Research Brief and Pilot Study

Thompson

Sugg

Barth

2019

J. Agric. Food Syst. Community Dev.

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Given the importance of food banks to the availability of accessible food, attention to the resilience of regional systems for bringing food from producers to distributors-including local food pantriesis of prime concern. By utilizing a partnership between Appalachian State University and Feeding America, through the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest North Carolina, we gathered information regarding the capabilities of seven regional food pantries. This pilot study focused on the capabilities of the selected food pantries to provide food assistance, promote self-efficacy, and address

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Refining and implementing the Food Assortment Scoring Tool (FAST) in food pantries

Abstract: The FAST is a flexible, valid tool to monitor the nutritional quality of food in pantries. Future studies are needed to test its use in monitoring improvements in food pantry nutritional quality over time.

Cited by 27 publications

References 24 publications

Examining Colorectal Cancer Risk Awareness and Food Shelf Use Among Health Center Patients

Examining Colorectal Cancer Risk Awareness and Food Shelf Use Among Health Center Patients

A behavioural economics approach to improving healthy food selection among food pantry clients

The North Carolina Food Pantry Organizational Capability and Mapping Study: Research Brief and Pilot Study

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