Urban mobile food truck policies: reducing disparities and building a culture of health in the United States

Abstract

We undertook this study knowing that for people throughout the Midwest who live in low-income urban neighborhoods, finding and affording healthy foods continues to be a problem. People with less money are not only forced to spend it on food, but have so limited options for avoiding purchase of foods with high levels of fat, salt, and sugar. A review of the literature shows that very little is known about how mobile food trucks can increase availability and affordability of healthy foods in low-income neighborhoods in the United States. We compared municipal codes regulating mobile food truck operators and evaluated the impact on cities in the Midwest for encouraging a 'culture of health.' We analyzed six Midwest metropolitan areas with the highest proportion of minorities who lived below the poverty level and had mobile food trucks selling provisions in their neighborhoods. We found that developing more incentives for mobile food truck operators to sell healthier food options can contribute to improving health outcomes in low-income neighborhoods.

Examining Factors Associated with the Use of Community Food Resources: An Application of the Andersen Model to Inform Future Interventions

“…This finding may also offer insights on the opportunity a mobile food resources can offer to older adults. This type of food resources may have great flexibility and considerable potentials to meet different dimensions of food access (including improving access to culturally-relevant foods) among low-income families that are already food insecure [58,59]. It is not surprising that individuals with inconsistent access to reliable transportation may be receptive to mobile food resources within their communities [60].…”

“…It is not surprising that individuals with inconsistent access to reliable transportation may be receptive to mobile food resources within their communities [60]. Furthermore, mobile produce markets are providing an emerging [54,59] response to improved fruit and vegetable access in underserved communities [61]. However, the correlations observed between the use of mobile food resources, income, Hispanics, and race variables are not clear.…”

Descriptive Analysis of Food Truck Online Orders (Food on Wheels) Behavior in Coimbatore– A Case Study

“…Without a permit, moving the food truck around the city and serving everyone food could lead to a serious government lawsuit. As a result, in order to move around, you need a license [37][38].  Easy to duplicate: Since there are no copyright concerns.…”

Characterization of the shopping preferences and needs of low-income consumers living in food deserts

“…In addition to increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, mobile food trucks are nimble, accessible, and able to respond to a variety of community needs and can easily provide healthy foods to entire neighborhoods, unlike stationary corner stores (Hsiao et al, 2019). Notably, mobile food trucks were one of the few food service operations that were able to function safely to provide food during the COVID-19 pandemic (Wallace, 2021).…”

“…, 2019). Notably, mobile food trucks were one of the few food service operations that were able to function safely to provide food during the COVID-19 pandemic (Wallace, 2021).…”