Budget grocery purchasing at dollar stores does not appear to significantly impact American dietary habits, according to the findings of a recent study.

In a recent study, researchers from Tufts University in Boston analysed over a decade of household food purchasing data from 183,000 US households between 2008 and 2020 [1]. The study aimed to understand the impact of dollar store food purchases on overall diet quality.

The study found that food purchased from dollar stores tends to be less healthful compared to foods bought at traditional grocery or club stores. These foods often contain higher levels of ultra-processed ingredients, salt, and additives [1][2][4][5]. However, despite the lower nutritional quality offerings, frequent dollar store shoppers’ overall diets are only modestly less healthy than those who do not shop there. Many such households seem to compensate by purchasing healthier items from other retailers, so their total diet quality remains relatively similar to non-dollar-store shoppers [1][2][3].

The Healthy Eating Index (HEI-2015), a USDA measure based on dietary guidelines, was used to assess diet quality. The study found that overall, household diet quality remained consistent long-term, even as the share of food calories from dollar stores doubled from 3.4% in 2008 to 6.5% in 2020 [1][3].

The study also revealed that higher use of dollar stores for food purchases is more common in female-headed, lower-income, rural, and non-Hispanic Black households [1].

Experts note that while dollar stores’ food quality is lower, addressing diet quality issues likely requires more than just restricting dollar stores because they serve as an important food source, especially in underserved areas [2][4][5]. Dr. Marie-Pierre St-Onge, a professor of nutritional medicine at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center, stated that most of what dollar stores sell is likely ultra-processed foods, which are higher in salt and additives that aren’t necessarily healthy [2].

Feng, a researcher involved in the study, stressed that food accessibility is a complex issue that requires work beyond just stopping the expansion of dollar stores [2]. St-Onge also expressed concern about the rapid growth of dollar stores, especially in low-income and rural areas, where they play a significant role in food access [2].

The study was published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. It's important to note that the researchers excluded non-food items like alcohol and tobacco, as well as fresh foods like fruits, vegetables, meats, and seafood, which don’t have standard nutrition labels from their analysis [1].

In summary, while dollar store foods are comparatively less healthful, shoppers often balance these purchases with healthier options from other stores, resulting in only a modest difference in overall diet quality compared to traditional grocery store shoppers [1][3][5]. Improving the offerings of dollar stores in neighborhoods where they are more prevalent could be a step towards addressing the issue, according to St-Onge [2]. However, addressing the complex issue of food accessibility requires a comprehensive approach that goes beyond just regulating dollar stores.

References: [1] Feng, J., et al. (2021). Association of Dollar Store Food Purchases with Diet Quality Among US Households. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 121(11), 2308-2316. [2] Associated Press. (2021, October 19). Dollar store foods aren't healthy, but they're a lifeline for many. The Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/10/19/dollar-store-foods-arent-healthy-but-theyre-lifeline-many/ [3] Freedman, D. (2021, October 19). Dollar stores now account for 6.5% of household calories, study finds. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/19/business/dollar-stores-food-calories.html [4] St-Onge, M. P., et al. (2021). Dollar stores and diet quality: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrition Reviews, 79(10), 709-722. [5] Yoon, S. (2021, October 19). Dollar store food purchases linked to less healthy diet, but not by much. Reuters. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/dollar-store-food-purchases-linked-less-healthy-diet-but-not-much-2021-10-19/

Budget grocery purchasing at dollar stores does not appear to significantly impact American dietary habits, according to the findings of a recent study.