ASSESSMENT OF FACTORS AFFECTING HEALTHFUL FOOD ACCESS FOR LOW-INCOME POPULATIONS IN MAINE

ASSESSMENT OF FACTORS AFFECTING HEALTHFUL FOOD ACCESS FOR LOW-INCOME POPULATIONS IN MAINE

By Emily M. Stiles

Thesis Advisor: Dr. Dorothy Klimis-Zacas

A Lay Abstract of the Thesis Presented

in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the

Degree of Master of Science

(in Food Science and Human Nutrition)

May, 2010

Research regarding the barriers to healthful food access has principally focused on urban areas.  The issues surrounding food access in the rural areas are less well known.  Studies indicate that low-income consumers face greater barriers to the access of healthful food.  This study aims to evaluate the availability, cost, and quality barriers to healthful food access faced by low-income families living in rural Maine. 

The Maine Rural Food Access Survey (MRFAS) was developed from the Nutrition Environment Measures Survey for Stores (NEMS-S), a valid and reliable, commonly used food environment survey developed at Emory University (Glanz, 2008).  The NEMS was adapted to reflect those foods recommended in the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.  MRFAS was modified to include local produce and was further adapted to the rural environment to include canned and frozen fruits and vegetables.  A pilot test was conducted to evaluate reliability of the survey.  Pilot test data were used to revise MRFAS, which was renamed the Maine Nutrition Environment Measures Survey (ME-NEMS) for the main phase of the study.  ME-NEMS was then used to evaluate availability, quality, and price in all stores accepting SNAP in Somerset County, Maine. 

This study found that grocery stores and convenience stores carried the fewest healthful foods options, poorest quality items, and highest prices.  However, healthy foods were found in all store types. Residents living in rural areas appear to have greater access to healthful food items compared to urban residents, however, the distance required to travel to these stores may be a burden for low-income consumers.   Though some significant differences were observed, neither urban nor rural stores exhibited a defined trend toward higher or lower prices.  Overall, consumers in Somerset County likely face the greatest barriers to healthful food access if they live furthest from a supermarket, or if their primary food store is a grocery or convenience store.  Educational materials aimed toward helping low-income consumers find healthful foods available near them may help people to overcome the barriers to healthful food access in their environment.