The High Cost of Healthy Snacks in Corner Stores

Abstract

IntroductionEnergy‐dense, nutrient‐poor foods tend to be more expensive than healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables (FV). The purpose of this study was to compare the prices of unhealthy (chips) and healthy (cut‐up/single‐serve FV) snacks that students are likely to purchase from a corner store.MethodsStore audits were conducted in 325 New Jersey corner stores. Auditors purchased a snack‐sized bag of chips and a snack‐sized FV from each store. One hundred‐twenty stores that sold both healthy and unhealthy snacks were included in the analysis. Chip prices were compared to FV prices overall and by store sales volume and block group characteristics. Chip and FV prices were also analyzed separately according to store sales volume and block group characteristics.ResultsIn the overall sample, chips cost significantly more than FV did ($.60±.46 vs $.47±.17; p < .05). In subgroup analysis the directionality in price differences were consistent across all types of stores and neighborhoods. Differences were significant for corner stores with the lowest sales volumes ($.63±.41 vs $.45±.14; p < .05), for stores in block groups with a low proportion of vacant housing units ($.73±.63 vs $.51±.19; p < .05), and for stores in block groups with a medium proportion of unemployed residents ($.57±.26 vs $.45±.17; p < .05). The difference between the cost of FV and chips was higher in stores with lower sales volumes (18 cents) compared to the difference in prices in stores with higher sales volumes (5 cents), and these differences were marginally significant (p = .07).ConclusionsReducing the prices of healthy snacks may be an important first step in changing children's purchasing behaviors. This strategy may be most effective in the smallest corner stores.Support or Funding InformationThis research was funded by a National Institute of Food and Agriculture predoctoral dissertation fellowship (20146701122279) and by a grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (1R01HD071583‐01A1)