FOOD OPTION WITH A MORE NUTRIENT FAVORABLE PROFILE IN GROCERY STORES : BUYING HEALTHIER FOODS WITHOUT PAYING MORE.

Abstract

Obesity is more prevalent in people of lower-socioeconomic status. Since over half of meals consumed are prepared in the home, grocery store purchases may be playing an important role in the obesity epidemic. The objective of this study was to assess the price differences between more nutrient favorable (MNF; i.e. low in fat, low in sodium, low in sugar, low in calories and whole grain) foods and less nutrient favorable (LNF; i.e. high in fat, high in sodium, high in sugar, high in calories, and refined) food option pairs (n=126; 63 MNF, 63 LNF) in all grocery stores in Greenville, NC (n=13) in the summer of 2009. Anovas, independent t tests and post-hoc analyses were used to produce means for each food item across the 13 grocery stores. LNF food items never cost more than MNF food items. Of the MNF and LNF food pairs assessed, 14 (22.2%) of foods had statistically significant differences in price (P<0.01). When looked at for cent-for-cent differences, 33 (52.4%) of the food pairs assessed had no differences in price. The findings of this study show that consumers can largely reduce calorie, fat, sugar, and sodium content of grocery store food purchases without increasing cost.