A cost comparison of more and less nutritious food choices in US supermarkets

Katz, David L; Doughty, Kim; Njike, Valentine; Treu, Judith A; Reynolds, Jesse; Walker, Jennifer; Smith, Erica; Katz, Catherine

doi:10.1017/s1368980011000048

Cited by 39Consumer Attitudes and Food LabelingNutrition, Health and Food BehaviorEconomics of Agriculture and Food Markets

A cost comparison of more and less nutritious food choices in US supermarkets

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Katz, David L, Doughty, Kim, Njike, Valentine, Treu, Judith A, Reynolds, Jesse, Walker, Jennifer, Smith, Erica, Katz, Catherine·2011·Public Health Nutrition

DOI 10.1017/s1368980011000048

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Abstract

Objective: The present study directly compared prices of more and less nutritious foods within given categories in US supermarkets. Design: Foods selected from six supermarkets in Jackson County were categorized using the five criteria of the Nutrition Detectives™ (ND) programme and an item-to-item cost comparison was made using posted prices. The nutritional quality of foods was distinguished using the clues of the ND nutrition education programme for elementary-school children and validated using the Overall Nutritional Quality Index. Setting: Supermarkets in Jackson County, MO, USA. Subjects: Not applicable. Results: The average price of the item for more nutritious foods did not differ significantly from that of less nutritious foods overall ($US 2·89 (sd$US 0·74)v.$US 2·85 (sd$0·68),P= 0·76). More nutritious breads cost more than less nutritious breads ($US 3·36 (sd$ US 0·28)v.$US 2·56 (sd$US 0·80,P= 0·03), whereas more nutritious cereals ($US 2·46 (sd$US 0·69)v.$US 3·50 (sd$US 0·30),P< 0·01) and cookies ($US 2·76 (sd$US 0·50)v.$US 3·40 (sd$US0·28),P< 0·01) cost less. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that it is possible to choose more nutritious foods within many common categories without spending more money and suggest that making small improvements in dietary choices does not invariably cost more.

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Several other investigations have not found consistent price differences between more versus less healthy foods.
“Conversely, several other investigations have not found consistent price differences between more versus less healthy foods.153–156”
From Population Approaches to Improve Diet, Physical Activity, and Smoking Habits: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association (2012) · cites this paper as [155]

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Authors: Katz, D. L., Doughty, K., Njike, V., Treu, J. A., Reynolds, J., Walker, J., Smith, E., & Katz, C.
Affiliations: Yale University (US)
Corresponding author: Katz, David L
ORCID: Katz, David L
Njike, Valentine
Reynolds, Jesse
Venue: Public Health Nutrition
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Published: 2011-02-28
Volume: 14
Issue: 9
Pages: 1693-1699
ISSN: 1368-9800 (ISSN-L)
1475-2727
DOI: 10.1017/s1368980011000048
OpenAlex: W2042292292
Cited by: 39
References: 49
Citations by year: 2025: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 3 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 5
FWCI: 5.34
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: bronze
doi.org
Licence: www.cambridge.org/core/terms (unspecified)
Locations: Public Health Nutrition (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Consumer Attitudes and Food Labeling
Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior
Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Economics of Agriculture and Food Markets
Keywords: food prices, nutritional value, bread, cereals, cookies, food purchasing, nutrition education
MeSH terms: Budgets, Choice Behavior, Commerce, Diet, Feeding Behavior, Food, Food Preferences, Food Supply, Humans, Nutritional Status, Socioeconomic Factors, United States, Nutrition Assessment, Linear Models

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A cost comparison of more and less nutritious food choices in US supermarkets

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