Evaluating the Federal Food Assistance Safety Net: Do Low-income Individuals Experience Larger Decreases in Nutrient Intakes during Economic Downturns than Their Wealthier Counterparts?

Low-income households often have less nutritious diets when compared to their wealthier counterparts due to decisions maximizing calories and minimizing costs. However, current research has not focused on whether gaps in nutritional intakes between different income groups have widened during periods of higher unemployment or whether food assistance programs protect the poor during these times. Using data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the Bureau of Labor Statistics ranging from 1999 to 2010, I conducted difference-in-difference tests to determine if low-income individuals experience a larger decrease in key nutrient levels and health indicators during economic downturns than richer counterparts. I found that higher periods of unemployment (proxy for worse economy) had mostly positive effects on adults living below 1.25 times the poverty level, as they increased total calories, fiber, vitamin C, vitamin E, magnesium, and potassium, while unfortunately elevating sugars, carbohydrates, and triglycerides. Interestingly, individuals above three times the poverty level had less protein, fiber, B vitamins, and other minerals during tougher economic periods, while the very wealthy tended to substitute towards unhealthier diets with more calories, fats, and sugars. Results for children also followed similar trends, as low-income groups improved key vitamin intakes while high-income groups moved towards more energy dense diets. A difference-in-difference-in-differences analysis showed that adult participation in the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program led to an increase in several key vitamins, cholesterol, and sodium; however, enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program (SNAP) was only shown to have indirect effects. With my preliminary results, I advocate an increase in WIC funding, a re-examination of SNAP, and a shift towards subsidizing more nutritious, healthy options.