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Research Article| Volume 50, ISSUE 3, P217-228.e1, March 2018

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A Supermarket Double-Dollar Incentive Program Increases Purchases of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Among Low-Income Families With Children: The Healthy Double Study

Published:November 07, 2017DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2017.09.013

      Abstract

      Objective

      To carry out a pilot study to determine whether a supermarket double-dollar fruit and vegetable (F&V) incentive increases F&V purchases among low-income families.

      Design

      Randomized controlled design. Purchases were tracked using a loyalty card that provided participants with a 5% discount on all purchases during a 3-month baseline period followed by the 4-month intervention.

      Setting

      A supermarket in a low-income rural Maine community.

      Participants

      A total of 401 low-income and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) supermarket customers.

      Intervention

      Same-day coupon at checkout for half-off eligible fresh, frozen, or canned F&V over 4 months.

      Main Outcome Measure

      Weekly spending in dollars on eligible F&V.

      Analysis

      A linear model with random intercepts accounted for repeated transactions by individuals to estimate change in F&V spending per week from baseline to intervention. Secondary analyses examined changes among SNAP-eligible participants.

      Results

      Coupons were redeemed among 53% of eligible baskets. Total weekly F&V spending increased in the intervention arm compared with control ($1.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], $0.29 to $3.88). The largest increase was for fresh F&V ($1.97; 95% CI, $0.49 to $3.44). Secondary analyses revealed greater increases in F&V spending among SNAP-eligible participants who redeemed coupons ($5.14; 95% CI, $1.93 to $8.34) than among non–SNAP eligible participants who redeemed coupons ($3.88; 95% CI, $1.67 to $6.08).

      Conclusions and Implications

      A double-dollar pricing incentive increased F&V spending in a low-income community despite the moderate uptake of the coupon redemption. Customers who were eligible for SNAP saw the greatest F&V spending increases. Financial incentives for F&V are an effective strategy for food assistance programs to increase healthy purchases and improve dietary intake in low-income families.

      Key Words

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      Linked Article

      • Corrigendum
        Journal of Nutrition Education and BehaviorVol. 52Issue 8
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          The March 2018 issue of the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior carried a Research Article titled “A Supermarket Double-Dollar Incentive Program Increases Purchases of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Among Low-Income Families With Children: The Healthy Double Study” (J Nutr Educ Behav. 2018;50(3):217-228; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneb.2017.09.013 ). Due to a systematic error in the research team's sales database, the reported sales from quantity and price for some items were miscalculated. These errors do not affect the interpretation of results or conclusions, but changes the values reported in the Results and Discussion sections of the article.
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