This paper examines the impact of a rewards-based incentive program on fruits and vegetable purchases in a supermarket located in a predominately minority community in Philadelphia, Pa. Researchers conducted a four-phase prospective cohort study with randomized intervention and wait-listed control groups. Households in the intervention were provided a 50 percent rebate on fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, which was reduced to 25 percent during a tapering phase, and then eliminated. Researchers found that households that received the 50 percent rebate purchased both more vegetables and fruits than did the control households. Intervention households purchased an average of eight more servings of vegetables and 2.5 more servings of fruit per week than control households. When the incentive was reduced and then discontinued, household purchases of fruits and vegetables were similar to baseline.
Published: March 2014
ID #: 68246
Journal: Am J Public Health
Authors: Phipps EJ, Braitman LE, Stites SD, et al
Age Groups: Adolescents (grades 9 to 12), Adults and Families, Elementary-age children (grades K to 5), Preschool-age children (ages 3 to 5), Young adolescents (grades 6 to 8)
Race/Ethnicity: African American or Black, Multi-racial/ethnic
Keywords: Community setting, Fruits and vegetables, Neighborhood, Supermarket, Urban
Resource Type: Journal Article
State: Pennsylvania
Focus Area: Pricing & Economics
Related Research
May 2013
Using Rewards-Based Incentives to Increase Purchase of Fruit and Vegetables in Lower-Income Households: Design and Start-Up of a Randomized Trial
This paper reports the design and baseline results of a rewards-based incentive program–the Frequent Buyer Rewards Study–in a large full-service supermarket located in a predominately minority community in Philadelphia, Penn. The Frequent Buyer Rewards Study is a four-phase randomized trial designed to increase the purchase of fruits and vegetables in lower-income households. Baseline data indicates MoreNovember 2010
Examining Rewards-Based Incentives for Fruit and Vegetable Purchases by Lower-Income Families
Incentives that reward healthier food purchases and that provide reinforcement to the consumer have not been systematically and rigorously studied, particularly among lower-income populations. The aim of this study is to determine whether an incentive-based system increases healthier food purchasing practices by lower-income families. The study is a randomized controlled trial of 70 adult supermarket MoreApril 2024