The Use of Charitable Food Assistance Among Low-Income Households in the United States

Fan, Linlin; Gundersen, Craig; Baylis, Kathy; Saksena, Michelle

doi:10.1016/j.jand.2020.07.026

Cited by 28 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…While this study only examined schools and workplaces, the nutritional quality of free food provided at other sites, such as food pantries, is also of interest. In a recent FoodAPS analysis, researchers found that free food from food pantries was of higher nutrient quality than non-free food among households receiving charitable food assistance [ 42 ]. Future research should gather new data on free and non-free food acquisition and consumption at school, work, and other institutions like food pantries to understand how the nutritional quality of free offerings may have changed since FoodAPS data was collected.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and nutritional quality of free food and beverage acquisitions at school and work by SNAP status

et al. 2021

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Background The dual burden of poor diet quality and food insecurity makes free food—food acquired at no cost—a very important part of the nutrition safety net for low-income families. The goal of this study was to determine the national prevalence and nutritional quality of free food acquired separately in two settings: 1) by children at school; and 2) by employees at work; both stratified by participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Methods Using National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey data (2012; n = 4,826 U.S. households containing 5,382 employed adults and 3,338 school-aged children), we used survey-weighted proportions to describe free food acquisition and linear regression to compare the 2010 Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2010) for free/non-free food acquisition events (i.e., meals) by SNAP status. Analyses were conducted in 2019–2020. Results SNAP households had more free acquisition events (29.6%) compared to non-SNAP households (<185% federal poverty level (FPL) = 22.3%; ≥185%FPL = 21.0%, p’s<0.001). For SNAP-participant children, free acquisition events at school had a higher mean HEI-2010 compared to non-free acquisition events at school (50.3 vs. 43.8, p = 0.033) and free acquisition events by SNAP-non-participant children ≥185%FPL at school (50.3 vs. 38.0, p = 0.001). Free and non-free acquisition events at work had relatively low HEI-2010s, with no differences by SNAP status. Conclusions Over one fifth of all food acquisition events were free, but free food acquisitions at school and work were relatively unhealthy. For children participating in SNAP, free food acquired at school had higher nutritional quality. Improving the dietary quality of free foods could improve the health of families, especially those participating in SNAP.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and nutritional quality of free food and beverage acquisitions at school and work by SNAP status

et al. 2021

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“…Loss of benefits was not related to CFP use in the current study, with about 24% and 19% of current and former SNAP families reporting CFP use, respectively (data not shown). Previous research suggests that SNAP participants exhibit increased CFP use following exhaustion of benefits [25]; thus, it is likely that current SNAP households could rely on community food sources at a rate comparable to that of former households. However, SNAP families receiving less-than-usual benefit amounts had significantly greater odds of CFP use than those receiving the usual amounts.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefit Reduction or Loss on Food-at-Home Acquisitions and Community Food Program Use

Sanjeevi

2021

IJERPH

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Since Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are vital for food-at-home (FAH) acquisitions among participating families, changes in participation or benefit amounts may impact FAH purchase and use of community-based food programs (CFP). The association of the loss of or a reduction in SNAP benefits with FAH acquisitions and CFP use was assessed using 2012–2013 National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey data. Households with incomes equal to or below 130% of the Federal Poverty Level were categorized as (1) current SNAP households, (2) households with benefit loss in the preceding year, or (3) households with benefit loss for more than a year. Current SNAP households were classified as receiving (1) lesser-than-usual benefits or (2) usual benefits. Regression analyses examined associations of the loss of or a reduction in benefits with the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015) scores of FAH purchases and CFP use. Benefit loss in the preceding year was related to a lower total HEI-2015 score for FAH acquisitions, whereas benefit reduction was associated with lower green/bean and added sugar scores and increased CFP use. This study suggests that the loss of or a reduction in SNAP benefits may adversely impact the quality of FAH purchases. The findings also suggest that efforts enhancing the nutrition environment of community food sources could support healthy food acquisition by families experiencing benefit reduction.

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“…It seems possible, and even plausible, that on the extensive margin the two are substitutes with increased demand for one corresponding to increased demand for the other, and on the intensive margin they are complements with increased demand for one leading to decreased demand for the other. The relationship between the two has more recently been explored by Fan et al (2020), who examine the temporal relationship between SNAP and charitable food assistance, finding evidence that pantry goers typically visited pantries after SNAP benefits were distributed.…”

Section: Private Versus Public Food Assistancementioning

confidence: 99%

The Other Half: An Examination of Monthly Food Pantry Cycles in the Context of SNAP Benefits

Byrne

Just

2021

Applied Eco Perspectives Pol

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The Use of Charitable Food Assistance Among Low-Income Households in the United States

Cited by 28 publications

References 22 publications

Prevalence and nutritional quality of free food and beverage acquisitions at school and work by SNAP status

Prevalence and nutritional quality of free food and beverage acquisitions at school and work by SNAP status

Impact of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefit Reduction or Loss on Food-at-Home Acquisitions and Community Food Program Use

The Other Half: An Examination of Monthly Food Pantry Cycles in the Context of SNAP Benefits

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