Healthy food availability in small urban food stores: a comparison of four US cities.
OBJECTIVE
Given that small food stores may be important retail food sources in low-income urban communities, our objective was to examine cross-city comparative data documenting healthy food availability within such facilities, particularly those located in low-income areas and nearby schools.


METHODS
Food stores in Baltimore, Maryland; Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota; Oakland, California; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania were selected for assessment based on proximity to low-income schools. Stores were defined as: (i) single-aisle (n 45); (ii) small (2-5 aisles; n 52); and (iii) large (> or = 6 aisles; n 8). Staff conducted in-store audits to assess the presence/absence of twenty-eight healthy items, organized within five categories: (i) fresh fruits/vegetables, (ii) processed fruits/vegetables, (iii) healthy beverages/low-fat dairy, (iv) healthy snacks and (v) other healthy staple foods.


RESULTS
The availability of healthy food items was low, particularly in single-aisle and small stores, and there was significant cross-site variability in the availability of healthy snacks (P < 0.0001) and other healthy staple foods (P < 0.0001). No cross-site differences existed for fruits/vegetables or healthy beverages/low-fat dairy availability. Healthy food availability scores increased significantly with store size for nearly all food/beverage categories (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, healthy food availability in these venues was limited. Region-specific factors may be important to consider in understanding factors influencing healthy food availability in small urban markets. Data suggest that efforts to promote healthy diets in low-income communities may be compromised by a lack of available healthy foods. Interventions targeting small stores need to be developed and tailored for use in urban areas across the USA.
Laska
Melissa Nelson
MN
Epidemiology & Community Health, University of Minnesota, 1300 S. 2nd Street, WBOB Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55454-1015, USA. mnlaska@umn.edu
Borradaile
Kelley E
KE
Tester
June
J
Foster
Gary D
GD
Gittelsohn
Joel
J
D003132:Commerce / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003611:Dairy Products / Q000600:supply & distribution; D005502:Food / Q000145:classification / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D005523:Food Supply / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D058870:Food, Organic; D005638:Fruit / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006801:Humans; D011203:Poverty; D014481:United States; D014505:Urban Population; D014675:Vegetables / Q000600:supply & distribution