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The Efficacy and Cost-Effectiveness of Replacing Whole Apples with Sliced in the National School Lunch Program

Author

Listed:
  • Shelly Palmer

    (Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA)

  • Jessica Jarick Metcalfe

    (Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA)

  • Brenna Ellison

    (Department of Agricultural Economics, Purdue University, West Layfayette, IN 47907, USA)

  • Toni Kay Wright

    (Office of Extension and Outreach, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA)

  • Lindsey Sadler

    (Office of Extension and Outreach, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA)

  • Katherine Hinojosa

    (Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA)

  • Jennifer McCaffrey

    (Office of Extension and Outreach, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA)

  • Melissa Pflugh Prescott

    (Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA)

Abstract

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) serves 29.6 million lunches each day. Schools must offer ½ a cup of fruit for each lunch tray. Much of this fruit may be wasted, leaving the schools in a dilemma. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the consumption of whole vs. sliced apples and determine the cost-effectiveness of the intervention. Researchers weighed apple waste at baseline and three post-intervention time points in one rural Midwest school. The costs of the intervention were collected from the school. The cost-effectiveness analysis estimates how often apples need to be served to offset the costs of the slicing intervention. A total of ( n = 313) elementary student students participated. Students consumed significantly more sliced as compared to whole apples in intervention months 3 ( β = 21.5, p < 0.001) and 4 ( β = 27.7, p < 0.001). The intervention cost was USD 299. The value of wasted apple decreased from USD 0.26 at baseline to USD 0.23 wasted at post-intervention. The school would need to serve 9403 apples during the school year (54 times) to cover the expenses of the intervention. In conclusion, serving sliced apples may be a cost-effective way to improve fruit consumption during school lunch.

Suggested Citation

  • Shelly Palmer & Jessica Jarick Metcalfe & Brenna Ellison & Toni Kay Wright & Lindsey Sadler & Katherine Hinojosa & Jennifer McCaffrey & Melissa Pflugh Prescott, 2021. "The Efficacy and Cost-Effectiveness of Replacing Whole Apples with Sliced in the National School Lunch Program," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:24:p:13157-:d:701736
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kevin D Hall & Juen Guo & Michael Dore & Carson C Chow, 2009. "The Progressive Increase of Food Waste in America and Its Environmental Impact," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 4(11), pages 1-6, November.
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