Evaluating the Impact of Emergency Food Benefits in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic on Supermarket Purchases among Families with Children

Start Date: June 2023

ID #: 283-5112

Principal Investigator: Joshua Petimar, ScD

Co-Principal Investigator: Michele Polacsek, PhD

Organization: Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Inc.

Funding Round: ARPA2

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SNAP and WIC benefits increased in 2020-2021 to combat food insecurity due to COVID-19. Understanding these policies’ impact on household food purchase quality is crucial to guide future recommendations for these nutrition assistance programs. This study aims to assess the effect of changes to SNAP and WIC benefits implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of supermarket food purchases of lower-income families with children. The study design is a comparative interrupted time series of supermarket purchases and qualitative interviews among SNAP and WIC participants shopping at a supermarket chain in New England.

Age Groups: Adolescents (grades 9 to 12), Adults and Families, Elementary-age children (grades K to 5), Pregnant women, infants and toddlers (ages 0 to 2), Preschool-age children (ages 3 to 5), Young adolescents (grades 6 to 8)

Keywords: COVID-19, Diet quality/dietary assessment, Equity and disparities, Food insecurity, Fruits and vegetables, Supermarket, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

Resource Type: Grant Summary

States: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont

Focus Area: Nutrition Policy & Programs

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