Start Date: July 2022

ID #: 283-5103

Principal Investigator: Di Fang, PhD

Co-Principal Investigator: Michael Thomsen, PhD

Organization: University of Florida Board of Trustees

Funding Round: 2021 Special Solicitation on COVID-19 and Socioeconomic Recovery Efforts

See more related research

Share


Food price inflation is an adverse outcome of COVID-19 that makes nutrition security more difficult for low-income families with children. School closures and pandemic-related assistance programs placed additional strains on the retail food system, which may have further amplified inflationary pressure on the cost of foods needed to support a healthy diet. The goal of this study is to provide insight into food price increases and how they are affecting the affordability of a nutritionally balanced diet. Using a longitudinal design that involves statistical modeling of food costs across geography and over time, the specific aim of the project is to measure and assess disparities in food-price inflation during the COVID-19 pandemic using the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) as a benchmark. The study uses store-level scanner data from across the United States providing volume and dollar sales for thousands of individual grocery items. It also makes use of a nationally-representative consumer panel to better understand disparities in the cost of the TFP.

Start Date: 6/15/2022

Related Research

June 2024

CACFP Family Childcare Home Sponsor Perspectives – Serious Deficiency Challenges

The federal Child and Adult Care Food Program, commonly known as CACFP, ensures over 4.2 million children, mostly in families with low income, receive nutritious meals and snacks in childcare. However, not all qualifying childcare providers participate in this beneficial program. Research suggests that the serious deficiency process, designed to ensure program integrity, may hinder More

April 2024

Mixed methods evaluation of the COVID-19 changes to the WIC cash-value benefit for fruits and vegetables

Recent cash-value benefit (CVB) increases are a positive development to help increase WIC participant fruits and vegetables (FV) access. This mixed method study aimed to evaluate (a) the CVB changes’ impact on FV access among WIC child participants measured by CVB redemption rates, (b) facilitators and barriers to CVB changes’ implementation, and (c) differences in More

April 2024

Promoting Healthier Purchases: Ultraprocessed Food Taxes and Minimally Processed Foods Subsidies for the Low Income

Fiscal policies can shift relative food prices to encourage the purchase and consumption of minimally processed foods while discouraging the purchase and consumption of unhealthy ultraprocessed foods, high in calories and nutrients of concern (sodium, sugar, and saturated fats), especially for low-income households. The 2017–2018 packaged food purchase data among U.S. households were used to More