The Use of Charitable Food Assistance Among Low-Income Households in the United States.
Charitable food assistance
Food insecurity
Low-income households
Nutritional quality
SNAP
Journal
Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
ISSN: 2212-2672
Titre abrégé: J Acad Nutr Diet
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 101573920
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
01 2021
01 2021
Historique:
received:
18
05
2019
revised:
23
07
2020
accepted:
27
07
2020
pubmed:
23
9
2020
medline:
21
5
2021
entrez:
22
9
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
About 11% of US households are food insecure, and many of those households seek charitable food assistance (CFA). However, little is understood about the nutritional composition of the diets of households receiving CFA, or the relationship between CFA and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) usage among low-income households. The aim of the study was to compare the nutritional quality of foods obtained by CFA clients to those of similar nonclients. Furthermore, the study examined the timing of CFA use relative to the timing of SNAP use among CFA clients during the week. Analyses were conducted using 2012 US Department of Agriculture National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey (FoodAPS), which collected data for 4826 households' food acquisitions during a 7-day survey week. Sixty-seven households reported using CFAs during the survey week. The nutritional quality of food was measured by the ratios between food acquisition quantities and the US Department of Agriculture Thrifty Food Plan consumption recommendations. The date of SNAP use was compared with that of CFA use for CFA clients who were also SNAP recipients. Propensity score matching was utilized to construct a matching sample of CFA clients and nonclients. T tests were used to compare the means of variables. CFA clients were more likely to be food insecure (48% vs 28%, P < .001) and less likely to have access to a car (61.2% vs 84.8%, P < .001) than CFA nonclients. CFAs represent an important source of foods for CFA clients, taking up 28% of their total food at home acquisitions. CFA clients obtained more nonstarchy vegetables than matched nonclients. Furthermore, among the 45% of CFA clients who also participated in SNAP, the majority (52.4%) of them used SNAP benefits within 10 days of SNAP benefits distribution while most (67.9%) of those households used CFAs starting on day 11 or later after SNAP benefits were allocated. CFAs provide a substantial portion of the diets of their clients and, in particular, for foods that constitute components of healthy diets. For the proportion of CFA clients who received SNAP, this study finds evidence that CFA clients relied more on CFAs when their SNAP benefits were likely to run low.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
About 11% of US households are food insecure, and many of those households seek charitable food assistance (CFA). However, little is understood about the nutritional composition of the diets of households receiving CFA, or the relationship between CFA and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) usage among low-income households.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to compare the nutritional quality of foods obtained by CFA clients to those of similar nonclients. Furthermore, the study examined the timing of CFA use relative to the timing of SNAP use among CFA clients during the week.
DESIGN/PARTICIPANTS
Analyses were conducted using 2012 US Department of Agriculture National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey (FoodAPS), which collected data for 4826 households' food acquisitions during a 7-day survey week. Sixty-seven households reported using CFAs during the survey week.
MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURE
The nutritional quality of food was measured by the ratios between food acquisition quantities and the US Department of Agriculture Thrifty Food Plan consumption recommendations. The date of SNAP use was compared with that of CFA use for CFA clients who were also SNAP recipients.
STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED
Propensity score matching was utilized to construct a matching sample of CFA clients and nonclients. T tests were used to compare the means of variables.
RESULTS
CFA clients were more likely to be food insecure (48% vs 28%, P < .001) and less likely to have access to a car (61.2% vs 84.8%, P < .001) than CFA nonclients. CFAs represent an important source of foods for CFA clients, taking up 28% of their total food at home acquisitions. CFA clients obtained more nonstarchy vegetables than matched nonclients. Furthermore, among the 45% of CFA clients who also participated in SNAP, the majority (52.4%) of them used SNAP benefits within 10 days of SNAP benefits distribution while most (67.9%) of those households used CFAs starting on day 11 or later after SNAP benefits were allocated.
CONCLUSIONS
CFAs provide a substantial portion of the diets of their clients and, in particular, for foods that constitute components of healthy diets. For the proportion of CFA clients who received SNAP, this study finds evidence that CFA clients relied more on CFAs when their SNAP benefits were likely to run low.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32958441
pii: S2212-2672(20)30995-3
doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2020.07.026
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
27-35Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2021 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.