Healthy Food Subsidies for Food Insecurity

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Carolyn Dunbar, MSc

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Calgary

Must not be taking: Carotenoid supplements

Disqualifiers: Pregnancy, Breastfeeding, Meal-providing facility, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

552 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests whether increasing subsidies for healthy foods can improve diet quality and reduce food insecurity in lower-income households. Participants receive coupons valued at $27, $54, or $81 per week to spend on nutritious items like fruits, vegetables, and meats at farmers' markets. The trial aims to determine which subsidy level is most effective and cost-efficient. Households with 2-5 members, including a parent who is the primary food shopper and a child aged 6-17, may be eligible to participate. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the chance to contribute directly to research that could enhance food security and health in their communities.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on food subsidies, so it's unlikely that your medications will be affected, but you should confirm with the trial organizers.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that providing financial help to buy healthy foods is generally safe and well-received. Studies have found that these subsidies can improve diets by encouraging people to buy and eat more fruits and vegetables, ensuring steady access to nutritious food.

For the $54 per week subsidy, evidence suggests it might slightly lower blood pressure, benefiting heart health. No major safety concerns have been associated with this subsidy amount. Similarly, the $81 per week subsidy has been linked to increased consumption of healthy foods without any reported negative effects.

Overall, financial support for purchasing healthy foods appears safe and promotes healthier eating habits, which can improve overall health. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Healthy Food Subsidies trial because it explores how different levels of financial support for purchasing healthy foods might impact food insecurity. Unlike typical assistance programs that offer a fixed subsidy, this trial compares subsidies of $27, $54, and $81 per household per week. This approach allows researchers to investigate whether increasing the subsidy amount can lead to better access to nutritious food and improved dietary habits. Additionally, the inclusion of optional nutrition skill-building activities, like cooking and gardening classes, adds a unique educational component that could enhance the effectiveness of the subsidies. This trial could reveal valuable insights into how financial incentives can be optimized to support healthier eating habits in communities facing food insecurity.

What evidence suggests that this trial's healthy food subsidies could be effective for improving diet quality and reducing food insecurity?

This trial will compare different levels of healthy food subsidies to assess their impact on food purchasing and consumption. Participants will receive one of three subsidy amounts: $27, $54, or $81 per household per week. Studies have shown that financial help for buying healthy food leads to increased purchasing and consumption of these foods. Research indicates that most programs offering food vouchers improve diet quality and ease access to sufficient food. In one study, food subsidies were linked to lower blood pressure, demonstrating possible health benefits. Evidence suggests that increasing financial help can enhance these positive effects, leading to better nutrition and overall health. Overall, healthy food subsidies effectively encourage healthier eating habits in low-income households. ^{1 2 5 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Dana Lee Olstad, PhD, RD

Principal Investigator

University of Calgary

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for lower-income parent-child dyads enrolled in the British Columbia Farmers' Market Nutrition Coupon Program. It's aimed at those who want to improve their diet quality and food security. Participants should include one parent aged 18-64 and a child aged 6-12 from each household.

Inclusion Criteria

Parent-child dyads must reside together ≥5 days/week

Are the only dyad in their household participating in the study

Have access to the internet and a camera

Exclusion Criteria

Participating in other trials that might interfere with the intervention

Expect a significant change in their household income or composition during the study

I plan to change my use of carotenoid supplements during the trial.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants receive coupons for healthy food subsidies for 16 weeks, which can be redeemed over 26 weeks. They are also invited to participate in optional nutrition skill-building activities.

26 weeks

Bi-weekly coupon distribution

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for diet quality, food insecurity, and other health-related outcomes post-intervention.

1-2 weeks

Final assessment visit

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Healthy Food Subsidy: $27/household/week
• Healthy Food Subsidy: $54/household/week
• Healthy Food Subsidy: $81/household/week

Trial Overview The study tests the impact of increasing healthy food subsidies to $54 or $81 per week, compared with the usual $27 per week, on diet quality and health outcomes. Over 16 weeks, participants will use coupons at farmers' markets and have their diets assessed before, during, and after intervention.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: SUBSIDY-3 Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Participants in this group will receive 16 weeks of coupons valued at $81/household/week, which is three times higher than the usual FMNCP subsidy. The subsidy will be provided in the form of coupons that can be used to purchase healthy foods at BC farmers' markets, including vegetables, fruits, dairy, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, nuts, vegetable and fruit plants, honey and herbs. Participants will also be invited to participate in nutrition skill-building activities (e.g. cooking and gardening classes) offered by community partners. Participation in these activities is optional, which is consistent with the existing FMNCP.

Group II: SUBSIDY-2 Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Participants in this group will receive 16 weeks of coupons valued at $54/household/week, which is two times higher than the usual FMNCP subsidy. The subsidy will be provided in the form of coupons that can be used to purchase healthy foods at BC farmers' markets, including vegetables, fruits, dairy, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, nuts, vegetable and fruit plants, honey and herbs. Participants will also be invited to participate in nutrition skill-building activities (e.g. cooking and gardening classes) offered by community partners. Participation in these activities is optional, which is consistent with the existing FMNCP.

Group III: SUBSIDY-Usual Active Control 2 Interventions

Participants in this group will receive 16 weeks of coupons valued at $27/household/week, which is the usual FMNCP subsidy. The subsidy will be provided in the form of coupons that can be used to purchase healthy foods at BC farmers' markets, including vegetables, fruits, dairy, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, nuts, vegetable and fruit plants, honey and herbs. Participants will also be invited to participate in nutrition skill-building activities (e.g. cooking and gardening classes) offered by community partners. Participation in these activities is optional, which is consistent with the existing FMNCP.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Calgary

Lead Sponsor

Trials

827

Recruited

902,000+

British Columbia Farmers' Market Nutrition Coupon Program

Collaborator

Trials

1

Recruited

290+

BC Association of Farmers' Markets

Collaborator

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

Collaborator

Trials

1,417

Recruited

26,550,000+

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06992947

Impact of Healthy Food Subsidies on Diet Quality and ... This pragmatic randomized controlled trial (RCT) will examine the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of two higher subsidies for healthy food ($54/weeek or ...

2. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2840193

Food Insecurity Interventions to Improve Blood Pressure In this pragmatic randomized comparative effectiveness trial, we found that a food subsidy led to lower blood pressure than a home-delivered ...

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3898771/

Effectiveness of subsidies in promoting healthy food ... All but one study found subsidies on healthier foods to significantly increase the purchase and consumption of promoted products.

4. kcra.com kcra.com/article/senate-approves-bill-to-end-shutdown/69367552

Senate approves bill to end the shutdown, sending it ... The Senate passed legislation Monday to reopen the government, bringing the longest shutdown in history closer to an end.

5. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2161831325001681

Healthy Food Voucher Programs: Global Evidence on ... Most evidence indicates that HFVPs increase the purchase and consumption of healthy foods, improve food security, and enhance nutrition knowledge. However, ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12589872/

Healthy Food Voucher Programs: Global Evidence on ... Most evidence indicates that HFVPs increase the purchase and consumption of healthy foods, improve food security, and enhance nutrition knowledge. However, ...

7. facebook.com facebook.com/Newsweek/posts/the-shutdown-has-disrupted-federal-operations-threatened-food-assistance-program/1196996065634169/

The shutdown has disrupted federal operations, threatened ... The shutdown has disrupted federal operations, threatened food assistance programs and triggered thousands of cancelled flights.