Mobile food vending as a venue for food access has received little attention in the public health literature. This paper outlines key components of mobile food vending regulation and provides examples from 12 U.S. cities to illustrate the variations surrounding these regulations. Then, using the regulatory framework, the authors describe how mobile food vending can be used to increase access to nutritious foods for vulnerable urban populations, highlighting existing examples of “healthy vending policies.”
Published: November 2010
ID #: 63049
Journal: Am J Public Health
Authors: Tester JM, Stevens SA, Yen IH, Laraia BL
States: Arizona, California, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas
Focus Areas: Food Access, Food Retail
Resource Type: Journal Article
Related Research
May 2012
Using Mobile Fruit Vendors to Increase Access to Fresh Fruit and Vegetables for Schoolchildren
This study explored the extent to which schoolchildren would purchase pre-cut and bagged fruits and vegetables from a mobile fruit vendor (frutero). During 14 days in fall 2008, a vendor sold fruits and vegetables at the entrance of an elementary school property in Oakland, California, at the close of each school day. Overall, 248 bags MoreJune 2011
Healthy Food Availability and Participation in WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children) in Food Stores Around Lower- and Higher-Income Elementary Schools
This paper examines the range of food outlets around lower- and higher-income urban schools and compares the availability of healthy food items in those stores. It also examines whether stores accepting vouchers for WIC, a federal program for improving health and nutrition of lower-income mothers and their children, have more healthy items available than stores MoreJuly 2010
Healthy Food Availability in Small Urban Food Stores: A Comparison of Four U.S. Cities
This article assesses the availability of healthy foods in small food stores within four metropolitan areas: Baltimore, Maryland; Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota; Oakland, California; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Overall, availability of healthy foods within these small urban stores was limited. For nearly all food/beverage categories, scores regarding healthy food availability increased as store size increased.January 2010
Mobile Food Vending and the After-School Food Environment
This article finds that mobile food vendors contribute to after-school snacking among children, and should be considered part of the school food environment. Based on data collected in Oakland, CA in the spring of 2008, researchers found a wide variety of vendors near schools. They include vendors who sell low-nutrient, calorie-dense items, such as ice MoreSeptember 2007