Financial Incentives Increase Purchases Of Fruit And Vegetables Among Lower-Income Households With Children

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Behavioral Economics
• Public Health Interventions

Background:

• High cost of fruits and vegetables is a barrier to healthy eating for low-income families.
• Financial incentives may encourage healthier food purchasing behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the effect of a financial incentive on fruit and vegetable purchases among low-income households with children.
• To assess if incentives impact overall consumption of produce and unhealthy foods.

Main Methods:

• A financial incentive (50% discount on qualifying produce) was offered to primary shoppers from low-income households.
• Purchases of fresh, frozen, and canned produce, as well as unhealthy foods, were compared between incentivized and control groups.
• Participation in an in-store event was optional for controls and requested for the incentivized group.

Main Results:

• Incentivized shoppers increased weekly spending on fresh produce by 27% compared to controls.
• No significant changes were observed in purchases of frozen/canned produce or unhealthy foods.
• No change in estimated annual average daily consumption of fruits and vegetables for shoppers or children.

Conclusions:

• Financial incentives can effectively increase fruit and vegetable purchasing in low-income populations.
• Incentives alone may not be sufficient to improve overall diet quality or consumption.
• Complementary strategies are needed to enhance the impact of financial incentives on dietary intake.