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SNAP participation among low-income US households stays stagnant while food insecurity escalates in the months following the COVID-19 pandemic.

ABSTRACT: The COVID-19 pandemic led to increased food-insecurity rates, particularly among low-income households. Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) was expected to rise in response. We surveyed 931 US residents from households with annual incomes below $50,000 to collect information on food security and food assistance program participation in the year prior to the pandemic and in the first four months of the pandemic, along with household and individual-level demographics. Food insecurity increased from 31% prior to the pandemic to 39% in the first four months of the pandemic, while SNAP participation stagnated. Even more alarmingly, among low-income households that were also food-insecure, 47% participated in SNAP prior to the pandemic but only 39% did so in the first four months following the pandemic's onset. In particular, Black households, households with children, and those in the lowest income category experienced the largest declines in SNAP participation. Food assistance programs designed to alleviate hunger should facilitate participation among the most vulnerable, especially when these groups are faced with multiple challenges, like during the COVID-19 pandemic.

SUBMITTER: Ohri-Vachaspati P

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8437829 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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SNAP participation among low-income US households stays stagnant while food insecurity escalates in the months following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ohri-Vachaspati Punam P Acciai Francesco F DeWeese Robin S RS

Preventive medicine reports 20210914

The COVID-19 pandemic led to increased food-insecurity rates, particularly among low-income households. Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) was expected to rise in response. We surveyed 931 US residents from households with annual incomes below $50,000 to collect information on food security and food assistance program participation in the year prior to the pandemic and in the first four months of the pandemic, along with household and individual-level demograph ...[more]

PMID: 34540570

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Project description:BackgroundUltra-processed foods contribute to risks of obesity and cardiometabolic disease, and higher intakes have been observed in low-income populations in the United States. Consumption of ultra-processed foods may be particularly higher among individuals experiencing food insecurity and participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).ObjectivesUsing data from the 2007-2016 NHANES, we examined the associations between food insecurity, SNAP participation, and ultra-processed food consumption.MethodsThe study population comprised 9190 adults, aged 20-65 y, with incomes ≤300% of the federal poverty level (FPL). Food insecurity was assessed using the Household Food Security Survey Module and SNAP participation over the past 12 mo was self-reported. Dietary intake was measured from two 24-h dietary recalls. Ultra-processed food consumption (percentage of total energy intake) was defined using the NOVA food classification system. Linear regression models were used to examine the associations between food insecurity, SNAP participation, and ultra-processed food consumption, adjusting for sociodemographic and health characteristics.ResultsMore severe food insecurity was associated with higher intakes of ultra-processed foods (P-trend = 0.003). The adjusted means of ultra-processed food intake ranged from 52.6% for adults with high food security to 55.7% for adults with very low food security. SNAP participation was also associated with higher intakes of ultra-processed foods (adjusted mean: 54.7%), compared with income-eligible participants (adjusted mean: 53.0%). Furthermore, the association between food insecurity and ultra-processed foods was modified by SNAP participation (P-interaction = 0.02). Among income-eligible nonparticipants and income-ineligible nonparticipants, more severe food insecurity was associated with higher consumption of ultra-processed foods. Among SNAP participants, the association between food insecurity and consumption of ultra-processed foods was nonsignificant.ConclusionIn a nationally representative sample of adults, food insecurity and SNAP participation were both associated with higher levels of ultra-processed food consumption.

Project description:BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic and countrywide lockdown could negatively impact household food insecurity among low-income households. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of household food insecurity and its influencing factors among low-income people in Bangladesh during the lockdown of COVID-19.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted through face-to-face interviews from 500 low-income households during the countrywide COVID-19 lockdown. A pretested, structured and validated questionnaire was used to collect socioeconomic characteristics, household income conditions, and food accessibility. Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) and Dietary Diversity Score (DDS) were used to measure food insecurity. Multinomial logistic regression models were estimated to evaluate and predict risk factors that influence food insecurity.ResultsThe study found that above 67% of households was mild-to-moderate food insecure while 23% experienced severe food insecurity. Significantly, 88%, 97.4%, and 93.4% of the households had anxiety and uncertainty, inadequate quality, and inadequate quantity of food, respectively. The regression analysis revealed the age 36-50 years (RRR: 4.86; 95% CI: 2.31-7.44, RRR: 4.16; 95% CI: 2.25-6.10) and monthly income <58.3 USD (RRR: 3.04; 95% CI: 1.12-5.14, RRR: 3.26; 95% CI: 1.79-4.71) were significantly associated with food insecurity (p <0.001). Likewise, less-income (RRR: 3.87; 95% CI: 1.37-6.46, RRR: 2.99; 95% CI: 1.16-4.83), increase in food prices (RRR: 1.29; 95% CI: 0.32-2.33, RRR: 1.08; 95% CI: 0.05-1.12), and those who did not have same type of earning as before during the COVID-19 lockdown (RRR: 3.41; 95% CI: 1.33-5.62, RRR: 2.60; 95% CI: 0.99-4.24) were potential risk factor for MMFI and FI.ConclusionThis study found that households become more susceptible to food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown period. Based on the findings, we suggest some essential food policies and adequate food assistance to mitigate these negative consequences.

Project description:ImportanceHouseholds with children and minoritized racial and ethnic groups experience a disproportionate burden of food hardship. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the US federal government implemented emergency allotments in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), increasing the amount of food purchasing assistance received by many participating households.ObjectiveTo examine the association of implementing emergency allotments in SNAP with food hardship among households with children overall and for households with Black, Hispanic, and White children by comparing income-eligible households that did and did not participate in SNAP.Design, setting, and participantsThis ecologic cross-sectional study used 2016-2022 National Survey of Children's Health data and a difference-in-differences approach to compare changes in the risk of food hardship from before implementation of emergency allotments in SNAP (2016-2019) to during implementation (2020-2022). Households with children younger than 18 years and incomes 130% or less of the federal poverty level (FPL) in all 50 states and Washington, DC, were included.ExposureImplementation of emergency allotments in SNAP.Main outcome and measuresThe primary outcome was caregiver report of household food hardship during the past 12 months.ResultsOf 44 753 households with incomes 130% or less of the FPL, a weighted 23.4% had Black children, 56.7% had White children, and 19.9% had children of other races. More than one-third of households (37.8%) had Hispanic children, and 31.8% had young children aged 0 to 5 years. The percentage of households that experienced food hardship decreased from 2016 to 2021 (from 62.9% to 48.2% among SNAP-participating households and from 44.3% to 38.9% among income-eligible nonparticipating households) but increased in 2022 (to 58.0% among SNAP-participating households and to 47.5% among nonparticipating households). Adjusting for confounders, implementing emergency allotments in SNAP was associated with a decreased risk of food hardship among SNAP-participating compared with nonparticipating households (risk ratio [RR], 0.88; 95% CI, 0.81-0.96). Implementing emergency allotments in SNAP was associated with a decreased risk of food hardship among SNAP-participating households with Hispanic (RR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.72-1.02) and White (RR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.76-0.94) children compared with nonparticipating households but not among households with Black children (RR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.87-1.23).Conclusions and relevanceIn this ecologic cross-sectional study, implementing emergency allotments in SNAP was associated with a decreased risk of food hardship among households with children. Efforts are needed to ensure that all populations benefit from economic policies.

Dataset Information

SNAP participation among low-income US households stays stagnant while food insecurity escalates in the months following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Publications

SNAP participation among low-income US households stays stagnant while food insecurity escalates in the months following the COVID-19 pandemic.

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