Nutrition Incentives Associated With Improved Outcomes: 2020-2023 Results From the U.S Gus Schumacher Nutrition...

Populations with low income and food insecurity report low fruit and vegetable intake and high associated diet-related disease. The Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program supports grantees to implement nutrition incentive projects nationwide to provide individuals participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program with incentives to facilitate the purchase and consumption of fruits and vegetables. This study examines the associations between the length of Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program nutrition incentive participation and fruit and vegetable intake, food insecurity, and perceived health status.

Nutrition incentives were available to eligible participants during grantees' multiyear award period between 2020 and 2023. Sixty-five Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program grantees collected cross-sectional surveys from a convenience sample of nutrition incentive project participants.

A total of 23,736 adult Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients (aged ≥18 years) who participated in a nutrition incentive project and completed the cross-sectional survey were involved.

Nutrition incentive projects varied in implementation at grocery stores, farmers markets, and other food retail spanning across all regions of the U.S.

Main outcome measures included fruit and vegetable intake, food insecurity, and perceived health status by length of participation.

Participants in nutrition incentives at >6 months (cups per day=2.91) demonstrated significantly higher fruit and vegetable intake than first-time participants (cups per day=2.73) and those ≤6 months (cups per day=2.76). Significance (p<0.05) was observed for reduced food insecurity (≤6 months versus first time [OR=0.66, 95% CI=0.60, 0.73], >6 months versus first time [OR=0.60, 95% CI=0.55, 0.65]) and better perceived health (≤6 months versus first time [OR=1.28, 95% CI=1.17, 1.41], >6 months versus first time [OR=1.48, 95% CI=1.35, 1.62]). Differences by racial and ethnic groups as well as age existed for all main outcomes.

Nutrition incentives appear to increase fruit and vegetable intake, reduce food insecurity, and result in better perceived health. They are a meaningful public health intervention to address key differences in diet-related outcomes.