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Food insecurity and poor produce intake are associated with food bank use in British Columbia, Canada
Author(s) -
Kevesdy Ashley E,
Holben David H,
Holcomb John P
Publication year - 2008
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.22.1_supplement.680.10
Subject(s) - food insecurity , analysis of variance , food security , food intake , zoology , medicine , environmental health , food science , biology , endocrinology , ecology , agriculture
Adult clients from 4 food banks in British Columbia (Surrey, Richmond, TriCities, Nanaimo) were surveyed for differences between food security (FS), dietary perceptions, and produce intake & behaviors. Of 1,064 invited, 496 (49.8%) completed the study. Overall, 95.3%, 94.5%, & 45.1% were food secure at household, adult, and child levels. FS (ANOVA, p=0.017; Tukey HSD, Surrey0.05). For all clients, adult FS was significantly related to poorer perceived diet quality (rho=0.290, p<.001), poorer vegetable (r=0.159, p=0.001), fruit (r=0.159, p=0.001), & total produce (r=0.180, p<0.001) intakes, and perceived barriers to produce intake (rho=−0.247, p<0.001). Food bank users are characterized by food insecurity and poor produce intake. Improved availability of produce, nutrition education, and programs that improve economic self‐sufficiency are needed.