Convenience Store Contribution to Adults’ Dietary Intake - What We Eat In America, NHANES, 2013–2016

Abstract

Abstract Objectives Convenience stores account for a small but growing percentage of household packaged food purchases. This research describes the contribution of convenience stores to U.S. adult food and beverage consumption and energy intake. Methods The study included nationally representative data from 9861 adults, 20+ years old (excluding pregnant/lactating women), participating in What We Eat in America, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013–2016. Dietary intake data, obtained from an in-person 24-hour recall, were collected using an interviewer-administered 5-step USDA Automated Multiple-Pass Method. For each food/beverage reported, participants were asked name of eating occasion, self-selected from a fixed list, and source where the item was obtained. Meal occasions included breakfast, lunch (includes brunch), and dinner (includes supper). Snack occasions included snack, drink, and extended consumption. Eating occasions of only plain water were excluded from analysis. Convenience store source included convenience-type store (e.g., 7–11, Circle K), dollar store, drug store, gas station, gift shop, and liquor/beer store. Differences were considered significant at P < 0.01. Results Overall, 26% of adults consumed a food or beverage obtained from a convenience store on any given day. Males, older adults (<60 years), and low income individuals (family income <131% of poverty level) were more likely to consume a food or beverage from a convenience store. Comparisons among race/ethnicity groups illustrated a greater percentage of non-Hispanic blacks (36%) and a lower percentage of non-Hispanic Asians (13%) consumed an item from a convenience store. Among consumers of food/beverages from convenience stores, 20% of daily energy intake came from convenience store items, with the majority of energy from these items consumed during snack occasions. Conclusions One in four adults obtained at least one food or beverage from a convenience store on any given day, with convenience store consumers having a different demographic profile than non-consumers. This highlights the importance of convenience stores to U.S. dietary intake and need for further research on socio-demographic differences. Funding Sources United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service.