UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health

This is an analysis of secondary, environment-level outcomes in a food pantry intervention (SuperShelf); the study evaluates whether the intervention resulted in measurable changes to the food pantry environment and improved diet quality of the food available to clients, compared with a control group of food pantries. Eleven food pantries were randomized to an intervention (n = 5) or control (n = 6) condition and completed baseline and one-year follow-up measures between 2018 and 2020. The intervention was implemented with high fidelity at five sites, with some evidence of change in the nutritional quality of the food available on the shelf to clients.

Full citation: Caspi, C., Gordon, N., Bliss Barsness, C., Bohen, L., Canterbury, M., Peterson, H., Wolfson, J., & Pratt, R. (2022). A randomized study of food pantry environment-level change following the SuperShelf intervention. Translational Behavioral Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibac003

On behalf of the World Health Organization, this systematic literature review and meta-analysis sought to assess the outcomes of implemented food taxes and subsidies for prices, sales, consumption, and population-level diet and health. A total of 54 eligible articles were assessed for the systematic review and 15 for the meta-analysis. Results of this systematic review and meta-analysis indicated that fruit and vegetable subsidies were associated with a moderate increase in fruit and vegetable sales.

Full citation: Andreyeva T, Marple K, Moore TE, Powell LM. (2022). Evaluation of Economic and Health Outcomes Associated With Food Taxes and Subsidies: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Network Open, 5(6), 1-15. DOI:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.14371

On behalf of the World Health Organization, this systematic literature review and meta-analysis sought to assess the associations of implemented sugar sweetened beverage (SSB) taxes with prices, sales, consumption, diet, body weight, product changes, unintended consequences, health, and pregnancy outcomes. A total of 86 eligible articles were assessed for the systematic review and 62 for the meta-analysis. The results suggested that SSB taxes may work as intended in reducing demand for sugar sweetened beverages through higher prices.

Full citation: Andreyeva T, Marple K, Marinello S, Moore TE, Powell LM. (2022). Outcomes Following Taxation of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Network Open, 5(6), 1-18. DOI:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.15276

This cross-sectional online survey of US caregivers of infants (6–11 months) who provided formula in the past month (N = 436) examined the proportion of infant caregivers who reported serving modified formula, demographic differences, and reasons for providing them. Approximately one-half (47%) of participants reported serving modified formula most often; sensitive and organic/non-GMO were the most common types provided. Agreement with reasons for providing was highest for “pediatricians recommend” and “benefits my child”.

Full citation: Gershman, H., Romo-Palafox, M. J., Rajeh, T., Fleming-Milici, F., & Harris, J. L. Exploring infant caregivers’ provision of modified formulas: Potential demographic differences and reasons for provisions. Frontiers in Nutrition, 955. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.867932

Inequities in the U.S. food system leads to disproportionately high rates of diet-related diseases and premature death in communities of color. One of those inequities, fast-food restaurant marketing that targets Black and Latinx youth, exacerbates diet-related health disparities. This brief examines the nature and type of fast-food restaurants’ public racial justice statements made in spring/summer 2020. It also discusses implications for public health advocacy to address the commercial determinants of health, including the negative impact of fast-food marketing on Black and Latinx youths’ diets and health.

Full citation: Mancini, S., McCann, M.,  & Harris, J. L. (2022). Fast-food companies’ racial justice statements and targeted marketing practices. UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy & Health. https://uconnruddcenter.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2909/2022/05/Racial_Justice_051822.pdf

Despite existing policies and programs, significant gaps remain for achieving equity in nutrition security across the life span. In this policy statement, recommendations for expanding and improving current food assistance policies and programs to achieve nutrition security are presented. Future advocacy, innovation, and research will be needed to expand existing food assistance policies and programs and to develop and implement new policies and programs that will improve cardiovascular health and reduce disparities in chronic disease.

Full citation: Thorndike, A.N., Gardner, C.D.,  Kendrick, K.B., Seligman, H.K., Yaroch, A.L, Gomes, A.V., Ivy, K.N.,  Scarmo, S., Cotwright, C.J., & Schwartz, M.B. (2022). Strengthening US Food Policies and Programs to Promote Equity in Nutrition Security: A Policy Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation, https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001072

The current study examined factors associated with caregivers’ provision of sweetened drinks to their young child. An online cross-sectional survey of U.S. caregivers (n 1763) with a young child (ages 1–5) was conducted. Results showed the majority (74 %) of caregivers provided sweetened fruit-flavoured drinks to their child in the past month; 26 % provided them daily. Moreover, misunderstanding of product healthfulness and other marketing attributes contribute to frequent provision of sweetened drinks to young children.

Full citation: Choi, Y. Y., Jensen, M. L., Fleming-Milici, F., & Harris, J. L. (2022). Caregivers’ provision of sweetened fruit-flavoured drinks to young children: importance of perceived product attributes and differences by socio-demographic and behavioural characteristics. Public Health Nutrition, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980022000751

A qualitative formative approach was used to explore food pantry clients’ needs, preferences, and recommendations regarding food received from food pantries. Fifty adult clients of six Arkansas food pantries were interviewed in English, Spanish, or Marshallese. Three themes emerged: clients need increased quantities of food, particularly more proteins and dairy; clients desire higher quality food, including healthy food and food not close to expiration; and clients desire familiar foods and food appropriate for their health needs.

Full citation: Long, C.R., Bailey, M.M., Cascante, D.C., Purvis, R.S., Rowland, B., Faitak, B.M., Gittelsohn, J., Caspi, C.E., English, E.S. and McElfish, P.A .(2022). Food Pantry Clients’ Needs, Preferences, and Recommendations for Food Pantries: A Qualitative Study. Journal of Hunger & Environmental Nutrition, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1080/19320248.2022.2058334

Childcare settings are important environments for influencing child eating and physical activity. This study assessed the efficacy of the cluster-randomized trial, Healthy Start/Comienzos Sanos (2015–2019) in family childcare homes (FCCH) on diet quality and physical activity. Results showed the multicomponent Healthy Start intervention was effective in improving diet quality and sedentary behavior of children in FCCH, which demonstrates the promise of obesity prevention interventions in this setting.

Full citation:Gans, K.M., Tovar, A., Kang, A., Ward, D.S., Stowers, K.C., von Ash, T., Dionne, L., Papandonatos, G.D., Mena, N., Jiang, Q. and Risica, P.M.(2022). A multi-component tailored intervention in family childcare homes improves diet quality and sedentary behavior of preschool children compared to an attention control: results from the Healthy Start-Comienzos Sanos cluster randomized trial. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 19(1), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-022-01272-6

Research suggests that many parents make comments about their child’s weight, which is associated with negative adolescent health outcomes. The present study carried out a comprehensive investigation of two diverse samples of U.S. parents (n = 1936) and adolescents (n = 2032), who completed questionnaires about their experiences and perspectives of parental weight communication. Although the majority of parents communicated positive messages of body diversity and respect, 44% and 63% of adolescents said they never want their mothers and fathers, respectively, to talk about their weight. Findings have implications for health professionals working with families to promote supportive health communication at home.

Full citation: Puhl, R. M., Lessard, L. M., Foster, G. D., & Cardel, M. I. (2022). A Comprehensive Examination of the Nature, Frequency, and Context of Parental Weight Communication: Perspectives of Parents and Adolescents. Nutrients, 14(8), 1562. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14081562