This scoping review aims to summarize the state of the evidence on associations between participation in nonfood social safety net programs (eg, income assistance, housing assistance) in the United States and food- and nutrition insecurity–related outcomes. Six databases were systematically searched for peer-reviewed articles. Included articles (n = 65) reported on studies that examined 10 unique social safety net programs; 8 studies examined program interactions. Twenty studies focused on COVID-19 pandemic-era programs. Fifty-eight studies used food insecurity, food insufficiency, or food hardship as outcomes, and 11 studies used nutrition insecurity–related outcomes. Overall, results suggest that participation in nonfood social safety net programs is associated with reductions in food insecurity. Current evidence for an association between program participation and nutrition insecurity–related outcomes is limited. Further research is warranted on the association between nonfood social safety net programs and nutrition insecurity; potential interactions between social safety net programs; associations between the expiration of pandemic-era programs and food and nutrition insecurity; and how program impacts might differ among populations with persistent disparities in food and nutrition insecurity.
Published: January 2025
Journal: Nutrition Reviews
Authors: Duffy EW, Poole MK, Gonzalez D, Petimar J, Kinsey EW, Shafer PR, Baldwin-SoRelle C, Austin AE
Keywords: COVID-19, Food insecurity, Supportive family policies
Focus Areas: Food Access, Healthy Communities
Resource Type: Journal Article
State: National
Related Research
May 2026
Ultraprocessed Foods in the U.S.: Recommended Definitions and Policies
Despite growing interest in ultraprocessed foods (UPFs), there is not consensus on how to define UPFs for policy purposes. To meet this need, Healthy Eating Research convened an expert panel to develop evidence-informed recommendations for policymakers and advocates interested in advancing policies to limit UPF exposure and consumption at the local, state, and federal levels. MoreApril 2026
Identifying barriers and facilitators of the implementation of nutrition guidelines in food banks using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research
This qualitative study used the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to systematically identify the barriers and facilitators to implementing the Healthy Eating Research Nutrition Guidelines for the Charitable Food System (HER Guidelines) in a national sample of U.S. food banks. In-depth interviews were conducted among a random sample of food banks that reported implementing MoreApril 2026