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Impact of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefit Reduction or Loss on Food-at-Home Acquisitions and Community Food Program Use

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  • Namrata Sanjeevi

    (Department of Nutritional Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA)

Abstract

Since Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are vital for food-at-home (FAH) acquisitions among participating families, changes in participation or benefit amounts may impact FAH purchase and use of community-based food programs (CFP). The association of the loss of or a reduction in SNAP benefits with FAH acquisitions and CFP use was assessed using 2012–2013 National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey data. Households with incomes equal to or below 130% of the Federal Poverty Level were categorized as (1) current SNAP households, (2) households with benefit loss in the preceding year, or (3) households with benefit loss for more than a year. Current SNAP households were classified as receiving (1) lesser-than-usual benefits or (2) usual benefits. Regression analyses examined associations of the loss of or a reduction in benefits with the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015) scores of FAH purchases and CFP use. Benefit loss in the preceding year was related to a lower total HEI-2015 score for FAH acquisitions, whereas benefit reduction was associated with lower green/bean and added sugar scores and increased CFP use. This study suggests that the loss of or a reduction in SNAP benefits may adversely impact the quality of FAH purchases. The findings also suggest that efforts enhancing the nutrition environment of community food sources could support healthy food acquisition by families experiencing benefit reduction.

Suggested Citation

  • Namrata Sanjeevi, 2021. "Impact of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefit Reduction or Loss on Food-at-Home Acquisitions and Community Food Program Use," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-10, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:22:p:12004-:d:679884
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Tuttle, Charlotte, 2016. "The Stimulus Act of 2009 and Its Effect on Food-At-Home Spending by SNAP Participants," Economic Research Report 262193, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    2. Mancino, Lisa & Todd, Jessica E. & Scharadin, Benjamin, 2018. "USDA’s National Household Food Acquisition and Purchase Survey: Methodology for Imputing Missing Quantities To Calculate Healthy Eating Index-2010 Scores and Sort Foods Into ERS Food Groups," Technical Bulletins 276252, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    3. Tuttle, Charlotte, 2016. "Changes in Food-At-Home Spending by SNAP Participants After the Stimulus Act of 2009," Amber Waves:The Economics of Food, Farming, Natural Resources, and Rural America, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, issue 11, pages 1-1, December.
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