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Access to Healthy Food in Low-Income
Communities
Office of Legislative ResearchSeptember 29, 2011
Tatiana Andreyeva, PhDYale University
Overview
Understanding food access
Promising strategies to improving food access
UnderstandingFood Access
What is Access to Healthy Food?
Measured by access to a full-service supermarket/ large grocery store
- No supermarket within a mile and no access to a vehicle
- 2.3 million of US households (2.2%)
Easy access to affordable and nutritious food
Limited access if:
% households no car & >1mi to supermarket, CT 2006
Source: ERS USDA Food Environment Atlashttp://www.ers.usda.gov/foodatlas
1.7%
1.9%
2.0%
1.4%
2.4%
2.3%
3.6%2.9%
Food Deserts
Food Deserts
Areas with limited access to affordable and nutritious food
•23.5 million Americans (~8%) live in food deserts
- Low-income areas more than a mile from a supermarket
- Low-income rural areas more than 10 miles from a supermarket
% households low-income & >1mi to supermarket, CT 2006
Source: ERS USDA Food Environment Atlashttp://www.ers.usda.gov/foodatlas
4.1%
6.7%
5.1%
3.8%
6.9%
8.5%
13.8%10.5%
Why Food Access Important?
Impacts diet quality, health, obesity
Has socio-demographic inequalities
Affects food prices and food choices
Responds to policy changes
Supermarkets in Inner Cities(Los Angeles)
Source: Shaffer at al., 2002, Occidental College Report
34
14
5
0
10
20
30
40
1963 1991 2002
Number of Full-Service SupermarketChain Stores in Inner City Los Angeles
Barriers to Healthy Eating
Limited access to affordable and healthy food
Limited time, cooking skills, awareness
Abundance, convenience, lower cost, massiveadvertising of energy-dense low-nutrient foods
Our defaults are set for eating less nutritious food
Promising Strategies to Improving Food Access
Economic Approaches
Changes in food assistance programs
Develop new grocery stores
Improve existing small stores
Changes in Food Assistance Programs
Increase demand for healthy foods
Revisions in WIC food packages
Set standards for vendors
Minimum stocking requirements
Increase participation in WIC and SNAP
Purchasing power in underserved areas
Revisions to WIC Food Packages
Reduction in dairy fat, juice
Increase in whole grains, cash vouchers for fruit and vegetables
New stocking requirements for WIC stores
Implemented nationwide Oct 2009
Better Food Access due to WIC Package Revisions
Significant increase in supply of healthy foods in WIC stores
Pre-post inventory of ~300 stores in CT, 2009-2011
Improved availability, variety of healthy foods, especially whole grains
Some improvement in non-WIC stores
Effect larger in low-income communities
Source: Andreyeva et al 2011.
Effects on WIC Retailers
Stores adapted quickly to new WIC requirements
Demand determines supply
Develop New Grocery Stores
Better information tools Data on business potential of low-income communities
Dedicated financing sources
PA Fresh Food Financing Initiative
Federal Healthy Food Financing Initiative
Help with site identification and development Zoning, tax incentives, training
Improve Small Stores
Connect stores with resources Financial and technical assistance
Increase customer spending power Promote SNAP and WIC participation
Financial incentives Lower permit fees, subsidized loans Zoning policies
Philadelphia Food Trust
Healthy Corner Store Initiative
Borradaile et al, Pediatrics 2009
Pre-intervention
Average child’s store visit:
$1.07 spent360 calories purchased
Partnering with Stores
Develop “Snackin’ Fresh” marketing
Help owners stock fruit salads, bottled water
Provide refrigeration units to stock produce
http://www.centraldetroitchristian.org/Peaches_and_Greens_Vision.htm
Peaches and Greens (Detroit)
Recommendations
Promote participation in WIC and SNAP
Encourage application for funding through Healthy Food Financing Initiative
Conduct up-to-date needs assessment in CT
Address problem of mini-food deserts
http://www.yaleruddcenter.org
Thank You!
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