ARS | Publication request: Energy density, nutrient adequacy and food prices in the Lower Mississippi Delta

Submitted to: International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: March 18, 2008
Publication Date: May 22, 2008
Citation: Yadick, K., Connell, C., Zoellner, J., Chekuri, S., Crook, L., Bogle, M.L. Energy density, nutrient adequacy and food prices in the Lower Mississippi Delta [abstract]. International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. p. 36.

Technical Abstract: The purpose was to assess the relationship of food cost with: 1) energy density (ED) and 2) nutrient adequacy [naturally nutrient rich (NNR) score] for 102 foods inventoried in a sample of 225 supermarkets, small/medium grocery stores, and convenience stores in the 36-county region of the Lower Mississippi Delta (LMD) in the US. ED was calculated as Kcal/g of food item. Food cost was calculated based on $/2000 kcal of food item. NNR scores were calculated for 102 foods using the equation: Sigma%DV2000/Kcal/15 nutrients. Spearman correlations were used to determine relationships between NNR scores, ED, and food costs for all store types combined, only supermarkets, and only small/medium grocery stores. Results were similar for all store types, therefore only supermarket results are reported here. Although the relationship between ED and $/100g edible portion was not significant, there was a significant inverse association between ED and $/2000 Kcal (Rho = -0.707, P<0.0001). The relationship between NNR score and $/100 g edible portion of a food item was not significant. There was a significant positive association of NNR score with $/2000 Kcal (Rho = 0.670, p<0.0001), but not $/100 g (Rho = 0.177, p<0.076) of food items. We conclude that the relatively lower cost of energy dense, nutrient poor foods combined with their taste and satiety effects may contribute to their preferred consumption among a low-income population such as that in the LMD.