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!