title: A cost comparison of more and less nutritious food choices in US supermarkets.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study directly compared prices of more and less nutritious foods within given categories in US supermarkets.
  
  
  METHODS
  Foods selected from six supermarkets in Jackson County were categorized using the five criteria of the Nutrition Detectives™ (ND) programme and an item-to-item cost comparison was made using posted prices. The nutritional quality of foods was distinguished using the clues of the ND nutrition education programme for elementary-school children and validated using the Overall Nutritional Quality Index.
  
  
  METHODS
  Supermarkets in Jackson County, MO, USA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average price of the item for more nutritious foods did not differ significantly from that of less nutritious foods overall ($US 2·89 (sd $US 0·74) v. $US 2·85 (sd $0·68), P = 0·76). More nutritious breads cost more than less nutritious breads ($US 3·36 (sd $ US 0·28) v. $US 2·56 (sd $US 0·80, P = 0·03), whereas more nutritious cereals ($US 2·46 (sd $US 0·69) v. $US 3·50 (sd $US 0·30), P < 0·01) and cookies ($US 2·76 (sd $US 0·50) v. $US 3·40 (sd $US0·28), P < 0·01) cost less.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate that it is possible to choose more nutritious foods within many common categories without spending more money and suggest that making small improvements in dietary choices does not invariably cost more.
authors.affiliation: Yale-Griffin Prevention Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, Griffin Hospital, 130 Division Street, Derby, CT 06418, USA. katzdl@pol.net
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Doughty
authors.forename: Valentine
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Njike
authors.forename: Judith A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Treu
authors.forename: Jesse
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Katz
mesh_terms: D002017:Budgets; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003132:Commerce; D004032:Diet / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005502:Food / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards; D005518:Food Preferences; D005523:Food Supply / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States