Abstract
Background
National surveillance data identify disparities in low-fat milk consumption by race/ethnicity
and income. Some localized studies have shown disparities in access to low-fat milk
by community characteristics.
Objective
Our aim was to assess the availability and price of low-fat and higher-fat milk in
food stores throughout the United States and examine associations with community characteristics.
Design
We conducted a cross-sectional study involving observational data collection in 2010,
2011, and 2012.
Participants/settings
The study included 8,959 food stores in 468 communities where nationally representative
samples of students attending traditional public middle and high schools resided.
Main outcome measures
We studied the availability and price of whole, 2%, 1%, and skim milk.
Statistical analyses performed
Multivariate logistic regression and ordinary least squares regression analyses were
performed. Models included store type, race/ethnicity, median household income, urbanicity,
US Census division, and year of data collection.
Results
Less than half of all stores carried 1% and skim milk, and more than three-quarters
of stores carried whole and 2% milk. Regression results indicated that the odds of
carrying any type of milk were 31% to 67% lower in stores in majority black and 26%
to 45% lower in other/mixed race compared with majority white communities. The odds
of carrying specifically low-fat milk were 50% to 58% lower in majority Hispanic compared
with majority white communities, and 32% to 44% lower in low-income compared with
high-income communities. Some significant differences in milk prices by community
characteristics were observed in grocery and limited-service stores. On average, low-fat
milk options were more expensive in grocery stores in majority black and rural and
suburban communities compared with such stores in majority white and urban communities.
Conclusions
This is the first nationwide study to examine the availability and price of low-fat
and higher-fat milk in food stores and show disparities in access by community characteristics.
Policies and programs can play a role in increasing accessibility of low-fat milk
in stores in nonwhite and low-income communities.
Keywords
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Biography
L. Rimkus is a visiting research specialist in public health and deputy director of the Bridging the Gap Program, Institute for Health Research and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago.
Biography
Z. Isgor is a postdoctoral research associate, Institute for Health Research and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago.
Biography
S. N. Zenk is an associate professor of health systems science, College of Nursing, University of Illinois at Chicago.
Biography
L. M. Powell is a professor of health policy and administration at the School of Public Health and associate director, Health Policy Center, Institute for Health Research and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago.
Biography
F. J. Chaloupka is a distinguished professor of economics and director, Health Policy Center, Institute for Health Research and Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago.
Biography
P. Ohri-Vachaspati is an associate professor of nutrition, School of Nutrition and Health Promotion, Arizona State University, Phoenix.
Biography
D. C. Barker is president, Barker Bi-Coastal Health Consultants, Inc, Calabasas, CA.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 02, 2015
Accepted:
April 1,
2015
Received:
November 19,
2014
Footnotes
STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
FUNDING/SUPPORT Support for this research was provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation through grants to the Bridging the Gap program at the University of Illinois at Chicago (grant IDs 64702, 70157, and 71705).
Identification
Copyright
© 2015 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
