Retail Food Environment in an Urban Resettlement Colony of Delhi: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study

The changing retail food environment contributes to increasing burden of obesity and noncommunicable diseases. The study assessed the density of retail stores along with availability, price, and placement of food options in a low-income urban community of Delhi, India.

An audit of retail stores was conducted using an adapted Nutrition Environment Measure Survey tool covering nine locally relevant food items. For each item, healthier and less healthy options were identified based on global recommendations. Data were collected by personal observation and response of the shopkeeper. The study area was estimated using geospatial methods and population by electoral list. Results are expressed as proportions for availability, price ratio of less healthy to healthier food items, and density of stores per 100,000 population and per sq. km.

Among 70 stores, 88.2%, 7.4%, and 4.4% were small and large corner stores and small convenience stores, respectively. The density of food retail stores was 304 stores per sq. km and 99 stores per 100,000 population. A similar proportion of healthier and less healthy options were available for items like wheat flour, pulses, salt, milk, and bread. The price ratio was <1 for all items except for wheat flour and milk. The mean (95% confidence interval) number of less healthy items displayed at the cash counter, 7.38 (6.48-8.28), was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than that of healthier items, 2.74 (2.28-3.20).

The food environment was characterized by being predominantly small corner stores based on high density, equal availability of less healthy and healthy options, and adverse pricing and placement for healthier options.