Background
The relative affordability of energy-dense versus nutrient-rich foods may promote
socioeconomic disparities in dietary quality and obesity. Although supermarkets are
the largest food source in the American diet, the associations between SES and the
cost and nutrient content of freely chosen food purchases have not been described.
Purpose
To investigate relationships of SES with the energy cost ($/1000 kcal) and nutrient
content of freely chosen supermarket purchases.
Methods
Supermarket shoppers (n=69) were recruited at a Phoenix AZ supermarket in 2009. The energy cost and nutrient
content of participants' purchases were calculated from photographs of food packaging
and nutrition labels using dietary analysis software. Data were analyzed in 2010–2011.
Results
Two SES indicators, education and household income as a percentage of the federal
poverty guideline (FPG), were associated with the energy cost of purchased foods.
Adjusting for covariates, the amount spent on 1000 kcal of food was $0.26 greater
for every multiple of the FPG, and those with a baccalaureate or postbaccalaureate
degree spent an additional $1.05 for every 1000 kcal of food compared to those with
no college education. Lower energy cost was associated with higher total fat and less
protein, dietary fiber, and vegetables per 1000 kcal purchased.
Conclusions
Low-SES supermarket shoppers purchase calories in inexpensive forms that are higher
in fat and less nutrient-rich.
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© 2012 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
