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THE REAL COST OF NUTRITION: EXPLAINING PURCHASE DECISIONS OF FOOD STAMP RECIPIENTS IN FOUR CALIFORNIA COUNTIES
Author(s) -
Follett Jennifer Renee’,
Monsivais Pablo,
Adams Susan,
Sutherland Barbara,
Townsend Marilyn,
Drewnowski Adam,
Keim Nancy,
Donaldson Jenny,
RomantTodd Rose,
Shukla Vikarshan,
Lamp Cathi,
Martin Anna,
Metz Diane
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.4.a7
Subject(s) - unit (ring theory) , food stamp program , allotment , agricultural economics , unit price , food prices , poverty , business , consumption (sociology) , productivity , economics , food stamps , agriculture , food security , economic growth , geography , social science , archaeology , sociology , welfare , market economy , macroeconomics , mathematics education , mathematics
Links between poverty and obesity may be mediated by food purchase decisions. Price and the family not feeling hungry are two leading motivators of food purchase decisions. The Dietary Guidelines (DG) provide recommended servings but do not consider purchase price. The Food Stamp (FS) Program uses the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) to support access to nutritious diets on a limited budget. The TFP is adjusted for changes in national budget but not regional differences and few families receive the maximum allocation. Although the DG and TFP provide unit amounts for consumption, FS allocations do not consider original supermarket unit amount that must be initially purchased. This study examined actual market food unit prices required to meet DG and TFP for a family of four for one week. Prices were collected in four California counties in a chain supermarket and a market frequented by FS recipients. Food unit prices varied slightly by county and type of market with most variation being foods with short shelf‐lives. The average monthly FS allotment in California for a family of four is $178 and it is evident in all counties, the price of actual market units to comply with DG and the TFP would meet or exceed average monthly allotments within 2 weeks. This may impact food purchase decisions to less nutritious sources during the last weeks of the food stamp cycle.