Community-based Food Research Articles

Community-based food sovereignty assessments (FSAs): A review

Community-based food sovereignty assessments (FSAs): A review

Characterising users of community-based interventions designed to improve the food practices

Abstract Promoting affordable ways to help low-income families improve dietary behaviours and achieve a healthy weight represents a priority for UK public health policy. For such interventions to be appropriately tailored and targeted, it is important to better understand the intended recipients. The present study aimed to assess the dietary practices and psychosocial characteristics of users of Aberdeen City community-based interventions (e.g., food banks, pantries, social cafés) designed to support low-income communities in accessing food and engaging in healthier food practices. From January to June 2023, a cross-sectional survey was conducted employing convenience sampling among users of community-based interventions (N = 105; 73 females). The questionnaire assessed diet quality (SFFQ), household food insecurity (HFIAS), mental health (PHQ-4), well-being (Cantril Ladder), intention and self-efficacy toward healthy eating, and sociodemographic variables. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, group comparisons, correlations, and regression analyses. Results indicated that community-based food provision users are highly vulnerable to food insecurity. Among participants, 53.3% reported severe food insecurity, and 18.1% reported moderate levels. Service users’ diets were high in discretionary foods and drinks (26% consume daily >1 portion of fizzy juice, 18.2% sweets, 16.7% crisps vs. 11.5% fruits and 10.6% vegetables). The mean dietary quality score was 9.48 (SD = 1.90) from a possible 15. Higher food insecurity and lower diet quality were significantly associated with greater mental distress (r=.41, p<.001; r=-.287, p=.005;) and poorer well-being (r=-.460, p<.001; r=.19, p=.049;). This study is part of a larger project aiming to optimise community-based dietary interventions for low-income populations. The results provide a clearer picture of the intended beneficiaries of such interventions and highlight user needs that can be prioritised in optimisation efforts. Key messages • Community-based food provision users are highly vulnerable to food insecurity and related negative health experiences. • The burden of poor diet and its associated health consequences disproportionately affect those living in the most deprived communities.

Association between food security status and dietary patterns in a cohort of first-time food-aid users.

To examine the associations between food security status and dietary patterns among first-time food-aid users. From September 2018 to January 2020, a sample of 1001 newly registered food-aid users from 106 community-based food donation organizations were recruited across urban, rural, and peri-urban areas in four administrative regions of the province of Quebec, Canada. The Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM) and the Short Diet Questionnaire (SDQ) were used to assess food security status and food intake, respectively. A posteriori dietary patterns were identified through principal component analysis. Regression analyses were performed on 987 participants with complete data to quantify the association between food security status and dietary patterns. Three main dietary patterns were identified: prudent (intake of fruits and fruit juice, plant-based beverages and legumes, green salad, carrots, other vegetables, whole grains, and fish), western (intake of poultry, red meat, potatoes and fried potatoes, rice, and pasta and refined grains), and snack foods (intake of salty snacks, cheese, butter and margarine, sweets, condiments, sweet beverages, and processed meat). Food insecurity was negatively associated with the prudent dietary pattern and positively associated with the snackfood dietary pattern. This study highlights the complexity of dietary patterns in a vulnerable population of first-time food-aid users, especially among those who are severely food insecure.

Process Evaluation of a Pilot Food Insecurity Resource Navigation Program Integrated Within Pediatric Primary Care: Utilizing RE-AIM to Inform Program Scale-up

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the implementation and effectiveness of a novel pediatric food navigation program through a structured, comprehensive evaluation using the RE-AIM framework. Design and Participants: Data were collected from October 2021 through August 2022 for 166 pediatric patients and their families who were screened as food insecure or high-risk for food insecurity and were referred to this pilot food resource navigation program (FRNP). A total of 88 patients’ guardians consented to participate in this FRNP, receiving initial service connection. Participants were contacted via telephone by trained navigators within this health system to assess food security status across three time points (baseline, follow-up 1 [1- <3 months], and follow-up 2 [3-6 months]) and facilitate connection to appropriate community-based resources related to food assistance. Results: In this sample, we had an overrepresentation of Hispanic patients and an underrepresentation of Non-Hispanic Black and White patients relative to the available clinic population. Patients participating in the navigation program showed incremental shifts toward food security from baseline to two follow-up points. Integration within primary care was supported by physician champions across participating clinics and alignment with systemwide, updated universal screening guidelines to support projected increases in families requiring connecting to assistance programs. Through this evaluation, a comprehensive list of community-based food resource programs related to food assistance was integrated into electronic documentation for navigators to alleviate navigator burden and sustain the effect of this FRNP’s implementation. Conclusions: These findings may be used to inform expansion of current programming efforts within this FRNP and to clarify process evaluations of broader health system-based programming. Further research, building on the findings of this pilot study, is needed to examine the longitudinal, causal effect of FRNPs in pediatric food security and long-term health outcomes for replication across health systems nationwide.

An Evaluation of a Community-Based Food and Nutrition Programming: FAN Leadership Institute Study

An Evaluation of a Community-Based Food and Nutrition Programming: FAN Leadership Institute Study

Early impact of a new food store intervention on health-related outcomes

This study investigated the early impact of a community-based food intervention, the Good Food Junction (GFJ), a full-service grocery store (September 2012 – January 2016) in a former food desert in Saskatoon, Canada. The hypothesis tested was that frequent shopping at the GFJ improved food security and selected health-related outcomes among shoppers, and the impact was moderated by socioeconomic factors. Longitudinal data were collected from 156 GFJ shoppers, on three occasions: 12-, 18-, and 24-months post-opening. Participants were grouped into three categories based on the frequency of shopping at the GFJ: low, moderate, and high. A generalized estimating equations approach was used for model building; moderating effects were tested. Participants were predominantly female, Indigenous, low-income, and had high school or some post-secondary education. The GFJ use was associated with household food security (OR for high and moderate frequency shoppers reporting less than a high school education were 1.81 and 1.06, respectively), and mental health (OR for high and moderate frequency shoppers reporting high income were 2.82 and 0.87, respectively) exhibiting a dose-response relationship, and indicated that these outcomes were significantly moderated by participants’ socioeconomic factors. Shopping at the GFJ had a positive effect on food security and mental health, but to varying levels for those with low incomes, with less than high school or high school or better levels of education.

Food Insecurity and Community-Based Food Resources Among Caregivers of Hospitalized Children.

Children's hospitals are implementing interventions to connect families to community-based resources. This study describes food insecurity (FI) and food resource knowledge, need, and use among families with a hospitalized child. Between November 2020 and June 2022, 637 caregivers of hospitalized children in an urban 42-ZIP-code area were surveyed as part of a randomized controlled trial. The United States Department of Agriculture 18-item Household Food Security Survey was used to evaluate 12-month food security (food secure [score of 0=FS]; marginally secure [1-2=MFS]; insecure [3-18=FI]). Food resource knowledge, need, and use were described by food security status and examined using Cochran-Armitage tests. The distribution of local resources was obtained from a database and mapped by ZIP code. Comparing FI (35.0%) with MFS (17.6%) and FS (47.4%) groups, the rates of resource knowledge were lower (70.2% vs 78.5%, 80.5%), and the rates of need (55.1% vs 30.6%, 14.2%) and use (55.3% vs 51.4%, 40.8%) were higher. Rates of food resource knowledge increased linearly with increasing food security (FI to MFS to FS; P = .008), whereas the rates of resource need (P < .001) and use (P = .001) decreased with increasing food security. There were 311 community-based organizations across 36 ZIP codes with participants (range/ZIP code = 0-20, median = 8). Half of families with a hospitalized child experienced FI or MFS. Although families exhibited high food resource knowledge, nearly half of families with FI had unmet food needs or had never used resources.

A Public Sector Innovation in Strengthening Local Community Food Security in the Selected Municipalities of Lanao del Sur

This study presents an in-depth analysis of food security challenges in selected municipalities of Lanao del Sur, focusing on household food insecurity prevalence and proposing public sector innovations to address these issues. Conducted through a data survey spanning Lumbatan, Lumbanayague, and Sultan Dumalondong over two months, the research collected 268 responses. Findings reveal nuances in food availability and preferences, highlighting gaps in food variety and accessibility despite overall sufficiency. Contributing factors include low income, poverty, limited nutritious food, high commodity prices, and insufficient agency support, leading to perceptions of inadequate food access, availability, and affordability. Proposed interventions encompass community-based food production, price stabilization, targeted subsidies, and nutrition education campaigns, emphasizing collaborative stakeholder efforts for sustainable improvements in Lanao del Sur's food security and dietary diversity.

Getting to the Root: Bridging the Micro-Macro Divide Using the Critical Transformative Potential Development Framework

The discussions about the micro-macro divide in social work often neglect to address how this fabricated rift undermines the mission of social work. Social work students are graduating and entering the field without the confidence and skills required for engaging in macro-level practice. This case study offers a radical approach to social work pedagogy that enables educators to dismantle the micro-macro divide while simultaneously inspiring social change agents by applying the critical transformative potential development model (CTPD) (Jemal, 2022). CTPD is a liberatory framework that social workers can use to bridge the disconnect between micro and macro practice and teach about social issues by stimulating critical reflection, instilling a sense of accountability, and inspiring social action. Using CTPD to teach about food insecurity and construct a community-based food project using micro and macro-level tools allowed students to broaden their analysis of the issue and develop a deeper understanding of the connections between micro and macro practice. Using CTPD as a pedagogical tool will not only increase the critical consciousness and potential for action of students, but it will also demonstrate the interconnectedness of micro and macro practice, a first step in envisioning an abolitionist future.

Negotiating dignity and social justice in community food access spaces

PurposeThis study aims to explore how key stakeholders and recipients of local food access programs operate strategically to meet individual and community food needs, enhance experiences of dignity and promote social justice. The study of a fragmented community food system highlights the connections between micro and meso dimensions of food access, illustrating how people work around food system limitations to access food.Design/methodology/approachUsing qualitative in-depth interviews with food assistance managers, workers, volunteers and recipients, this study examines the period before the implementation of a centralized community-based food access initiative in a mid-sized, rural Oklahoma college town with a high rate of food insecurity. This study asks: What are community members’ experiences in a fragmented food assistance system? In what ways do individuals use everyday resistance and workarounds to actively promote experiences of dignity and social justice in food access spaces?FindingsThose involved in sites of community food access build important networks to share information and engage in negotiation and trade to gain access to useful food resources. As forms of everyday resistance, such practices encourage co-construction of dignity and social justice in stigmatized spaces.Originality/valueThis research contributes to literature examining micro- and meso-level community dynamics that inform agency, dignity and social justice in community food access approaches.

Examining Factors Associated with the Use of Community Food Resources: An Application of the Andersen Model to Inform Future Interventions.

The role of the food environment in shaping nutrition and health has gained substantial attention from policymakers, public health researchers, and advocacy groups. To promote equities in food access and nutrition outcomes, understanding factors linked with the utilization of local community food resources is crucial. Using Andersen's service utilization model, we explained how adults use their neighborhood food resources. In a cross-sectional study design, an online survey was conducted in REDCap Version 13.4.0 via the Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) involving 1830 adults with a mean age of 37.9 ± 12.1 years. Participants answered questions on predisposing, enabling, and need factors that influence their use of different community food resources. The predisposing factors that were statistically significant included age, family size, marital status, race, and ethnicity. The enabling factors included travel time, travel mode, income, and shopping decision motivators (such as being able to use Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) vouchers, delivery services, great sales, and coupons). Food security and community food resources need for lower food price were the significant need factors. However, these factors vary by the types of food resources. In conclusion, enhancing the utilization of community-based food access initiatives and programs among underserved families requires consideration of family composition, racial and ethnic diversity, and transportation access.

Anaerobic biodigester as a community-based food waste processor (case study: Canteen area of PT PLN Nusantara Power UP Muara Karang)

In 2022, DKI Jakarta disposed of ± 8,000 tons/day of waste to the Integrated Waste Processing Site (TPST) Bantar Gebang. Among them, 3,761.90 tons/day of organic waste were generated from domestic activities. Considering the amount of organic waste, the potential to convert it into biogas through anaerobic biodigester was feasible. As the organic waste decomposes, it produces methane (CH4) gas, which holds value as a renewable alternative energy source. Processing food waste into biogas is not only perceived as an effective way to reduce CH4 hazards but also provides economic benefits for the community. PT PLN Nusantara Power UP Muara Karang, located in Pluit - North Jakarta, attempted to make a breakthrough in waste management, especially in the Pluit Sub-district, through a methane capture and processing facility. Employing quantitative methods with primary data, this research was conducted from May to August 2023 and focused on the canteen area whose tenants came from the Pluit neighborhood. The anaerobic biodigester facility has a design capacity of up to 5 m3 or 800 kg of food waste. In its initial operation (May to August 2023), the food waste processed 363.5 kg and produced 40.7 m3 of methane gas, or 1.4009 GJ, and was used by canteen tenants for their daily operations. Annually, based on its initial condition, the activity conducted in this research can reduce greenhouse gases by 690 kg CO2e and provide economic benefits of Rp 16,000,000.

Patient and Community Health Worker (CHW) Perspectives on a CHW-delivered Nutrition Intervention for Low-Income Adults with Hypertension: A Qualitative Study.

Adults with food insecurity (FI) face barriers to hypertension management, including difficulty adhering to diet recommendations. Few community health worker (CHW) interventions focus on diet to improve blood pressure. This qualitative study elicited patient and CHW perspectives on healthy eating and a future CHW nutrition intervention for patients with hypertension. Twenty-five patients with hypertension and FI and 5 CHWs participating in a hypertension health coaching program from 5 Boston-area health centers participated in semi-structured interviews from July to September 2023. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using the Framework Method. Themes included: 1) Variable patient knowledge about dietary patterns for hypertension management and low confidence in interpreting nutrition labels; 2) Culture influenced healthy food perception; and 3) Barriers to healthy eating included cost, limited cooking abilities/supplies, and competing demands. Patients and CHWs favored simple nutrition education materials (e.g., traffic light nutrition ranking, healthy meals on a budget). Patients had mixed opinions about CHW-accompanied supermarket visits. This study identified culture, knowledge gaps, and budget constraints as factors influencing diet among patients with hypertension and FI. A CHW-delivered intervention could include simplified nutrition education, strategies for healthy eating on a budget, and linkage to community-based food programs.

Household food waste generation during COVID-19 pandemic and unprecedented economic crisis: The case of Lebanon

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted economies and food systems globally, leading to substantial consequences on food waste, which is also influenced by political and economic factors. To date, information on the attitudes and behaviors of households regarding food waste generation in developing countries like Lebanon, witnessing a multifaceted economic and COVID-19 crisis, is scarce. Previous studies reported that around one third of the food produced in Lebanon gets lost or wasted. This study aims to update the attitudes and behaviors determining household food waste in Lebanon in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and unprecedented economic crisis. MethodsParticipants (n = 1251) from the five governorates of the country filled out a structured questionnaire composed of 3 sections and 31 questions. The variable “eat everything prepared” was used as a proxy for food waste. The effects of different socio-behavioral and demographic characteristics on household food waste generation in the country were estimated using a Logistic regression on STATA. ResultsMost participants (69%) reported that the economic crisis had a greater impact on their food shopping and eating behaviors compared to the COVID-19 pandemic. In comparison, 65% reported that their household food waste generation did not change because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and 47% reported that their household food waste generation decreased because of the economic crisis. Employment status, income, educational level, and the number of householders did not affect food waste generation. Feelings of guilt, thinking of ways to use leftovers, and frequent preparation of more dishes were negatively associated with food waste generation while eating out and buying special offers showed the opposite effect. ConclusionOur findings provide a better understanding of more effective community-based food waste-related interventions in Lebanon. Future research is still needed to explain the medium and long-term effects of COVID-19 and the economic crisis on food waste-related behaviors in the country since the behavioral changes uncovered in the current study might be temporary during the pandemic and the economic crisis and not permanent. This issue should be verified in the future using longitudinal surveys.

Longitudinal analysis of home food production and food sharing behavior in Japan: multiple benefits of local food systems and the recent impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

Home food production and sharing (home consumption) make up a local community-based food system that has become a custom closely tied to people’s daily life and culture across Japan. In this study, nationwide questionnaire surveys were conducted in 2015 and 2021 to investigate the status and trends of non-commercial home food consumption in Japan. We were also able to evaluate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which commenced at the beginning of 2020 in Japan. It was found that a wide variety of foods and many different species of food are part of home consumption. In addition, the amount of home production and the amount shared with close neighbors and friends via social networks is higher in agricultural areas than in urban areas. The amount of home production was slightly higher and the amount shared with others slightly lower in 2021 compared with 2015, suggesting that COVID-19 may have limited the sharing activities that also connect people. Meanwhile, the majority of respondents who were directly asked about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the survey in 2021 answered “no change”, suggesting a resilient system even under the pressures of the pandemic. Moreover, there has been an uptake in home food production and sharing amongst younger generations, men, and people living in urban areas. These customs and lifestyles are embedded in Japanese culture, helping to produce a sustainable and resilient food system. This home consumption system has the potential to contribute to various global challenges in the form of nature-based solutions which help meet the targets of the sustainable development goals, in particular a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and the promotion of health, well-being and social relations. We discuss future research challenges for a more resource-efficient, inclusive, and sustainable growth model that includes home consumption.

Who’s at the table: an exploration of community-based food security initiatives and structures in a north-central Canadian context

Abstract This article examines food security initiatives and actors specific to a rural, remote and northern Canadian community, a context found throughout the world. Using a ‘snowball technique’ to identify experts and practitioners in local food security, we employed qualitative engagement methods to map initiatives, actors and gaps in regional food security. We identified concerns around the ability of the region to be food secure; we also found a lack of cross-sector communication and planning, challenges with a small group of committed actors facing isolation and burnout and a need to more broadly engage the community and political entities with limited awareness of rural and remote cultures and concerns. Facilitating better collaborations across multiple food security-related activities while honouring current and supporting current initiatives could enable those who know their communities, to address food insecurity collectively and collaboratively in a rural, remote and northern context.

The role of Australian civil society organisations in food system governance: Opportunities for collaboration in dietetics practice.

Civil society organisations (CSOs) are increasingly participating in food system governance in ways that challenge the dominant industrialised profit-driven system. An online survey of Australian CSOs that self-identified as being involved in food system governance was conducted to identify their objectives and activities and the enablers of, and barriers to, their participation in food system governance. Respondents were nongovernment organisations/registered charities, social enterprises, businesses and collaborative research initiatives involved in food system governance in Australia (n = 43). Organisations undertook activities across all dimensions of the food system (food growing/production, distribution, sale, marketing, access and consumption) and had diverse goals related to health, sustainability and social and economic development. They engaged in food system governance via activities such as advocacy and lobbying for policy and legislative change and guiding policy development. Key enablers of this engagement included funding, internal capacity, external supports and collaborations, and inclusive consultation processes and, when not present, were considered barriers. CSOs play an important role in food system governance in Australia, including by influencing policy outcomes, contributing to more inclusive and democratic forms of governance and leading community-based food system policies. For CSOs to play a more central role, provision of longer-term funding; creation of dedicated food and nutrition policies at local, state and federal government levels; and governance processes that are inclusive, accessible and minimise power differentials are required. This study's findings can be used to identify many opportunities for dietitians to engage with CSOs in education, research and advocacy roles for food system transformation.

Improving Sustainable Food Access and Availability in Rural Communities: An Assessment of Needed Resources

(1) Background: Extension educators are uniquely positioned to assist with sustainable community-based food environment change, especially related to obesity prevention efforts, because they are located in almost every county in the U.S. Extension educators strive to build resilient communities by improving food access and bridging various actors involved in the food systems. Needs assessments of desired educational program resources by priority populations, such as those in rural areas, are needed to ensure effective food access and nutrition literacy programs are established based on clientele needs. (2) Methods: Using a non-probability opt-in survey, data were collected from 780 rural residents in a U.S. state facing challenges with obesity rates due to lack of access to healthy, nutritious food to identify barriers to accessing fresh produce and desired educational program resources. (3) Results: The need for socioeconomic and market-based solutions within the built environment indicated educators should increase partnerships with economic resource organizations to enhance community resilience related to food access. (4) Conclusions: An increased understanding can enhance the efficacy of the resources Extension educators offer, resulting in improved food access and security by directly addressing clientele’s demonstrated needs.

Evaluation of a community-based food waste campaign using a national control group.

Communities are increasingly interested in bolstering sustainability by implementing local campaigns to reduce wasted food and divert it from landfills. Evaluation can be challenging, however, as community-engaged interventions may reach all community members, making it difficult to find an appropriate control group. We leverage a recently validated online survey instrument with samples from both the treated community of Upper Arlington, Ohio, USA, and from the United States at large to provide an additional mode for assessing community-based campaign efficacy. We find that the amount of wasted food reported by Upper Arlington households declined by 23% after a multi-modal local implementation of the 'Save More Than Food' campaign while the national sample reported a 29% increase in wasted food over the same period with the 52% net difference between these trends being statistically significant. A contemporaneous curbside audit of Upper Arlington households revealed a 17% reduction in wasted food and a 30% reduction in inedible food scraps where only the latter pre/post campaign reduction was statistically significant and no parallel national curbside audit data was available. There were few significant differences across neighborhoods that received differential intensities of campaign elements, which emphasizes the importance of identifying and conducting parallel measurement in a control group. The inclusion of the parallel national control group survey provided a cost-effective means to improve the accuracy and robustness of local campaign evaluation. We also discuss the campaign's effects on awareness, attitudes, composting behaviors, and non-organic waste rates.

Seasonality and predictors of childhood stunting and wasting in drought-prone areas in Ethiopia: a cohort study

Background and objectivesOver centuries, Ethiopia has experienced severe famines and periods of serious drought, and malnutrition remains a major public health problem. The aims of this study were to estimate...