A Longitudinal, Randomized-Controlled Experiment of Healthy Food Policies in Online Retail Settings
University of Pennsylvania
Summary
Unhealthy diets significantly contribute to major preventable chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease and stroke, which disproportionally impact racial/ethnic minority groups and those with lower income \[1-3\]. Although taxes and warning labels targeting sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) have been successful at shifting behavior \[4-7\], there are many other ultra-processed food products that contribute to unhealthy diets \[8\]. What is less well-known is whether a suite of healthy food policies that are expanded to target a range of ultra-processed foods can shift dietary choices and intake in meaningful ways. Our research team's long-term goal is to identify and understand the degree to which combinations of healthy food policies can improve nutrition security and reduce nutrition-related diseases.
Description
To advance our understanding of policies needed to support nutrition security and health, our overall objective is to examine the degree to which a suite of healthy food policies in online food retailers can increase the purchase and intake of healthy foods and beverages while reducing the purchase and intake of unhealthy ultra-processed foods and beverages. To accomplish this objective, we will use an innovative online grocery store and restaurant platforms to randomize participants to either: 1) control (no taxes, warning labels, or healthy checkout regulations on any products); or 2) a sui…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * ≥18 years old * Not currently eligible for or participating in SNAP or another government program that automatically qualifies the person for SNAP (e.g., WIC, TANF) * Meets the following income eligibility requirements: For participants living in the Houston or San Antonio areas, their household income must be greater than 165% of the federal poverty level, but less than the Texas state median household income (based on the 2023 American Community Survey) for their household size \[11\]. For participants living in the Philadelphia area, their income must be greater tha…
Interventions
- BehavioralSuite of healthy food policies
A suite of healthy food policies in an online restaurant and grocery store including ultra-processed food and beverage taxes, front-of-pack nutrition labeling, and healthy check out regulations that restrict the promotion of ultra-processed products on the checkout pages.
Location
- University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania