Reduction in COVID-19 Emergency SNAP Benefits Among Virginia Fresh Match Customers is Associated with Food Insecurity...

To examine the associations between reductions in coronavirus disease 2019 emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits and food security (FS), fruit and vegetable (FV) intake, and food procurement experiences among customers of the Virginia Fresh Match Nutrition Incentive Program.

Cross-sectional survey.

Community-based food stores and farmers' markets participating in VFM.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program customers using VFM.

Benefit reduction and shopping experience, dietary screener, and the US Department of Agriculture 6-item FS Survey ANALYSIS: Pearson chi-square determined the association between shopping experiences, benefit reduction, and FS. Independent samples t tests analyzed differences in FV intake by benefit reduction and FS. One-way analysis of variance assessed differences in FV intake between the benefit reduction amount and the FS level.

Most (80.5%) experienced benefit reduction, with 40.3% reporting benefit reduction of at least $100/mo. Customers who experienced benefit reduction were more likely to be food insecure (71.0%) than food secure (29.0%, P = 0.03). Customers with food insecurity had difficulty buying enough food (84.9%) and purchasing FVs (88.0%) after benefit reductions compared with participants who are food secure (15.1% and 12.0%, respectively, P < 0.001). No significant differences in FV intake were shown.

Customers with food insecurity faced hardships acquiring food, including fresh FV. Access to VFM may support FV intake for households with food insecurity. Findings support advocacy for increased Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-benefit allotments and the strengthening of nutrition incentive programs.