title: The impact of WIC food package changes on access to healthful food in 2 low-income urban neighborhoods.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the impact of the 2009 food package changes for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) on the availability of healthful food.
  
  
  METHODS
  Survey of all food stores in the study area before and after the changes were implemented.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two low-income neighborhoods in Philadelphia, 1 predominantly African-American, the other predominantly Hispanic.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred forty one supermarkets, grocery stores, and non-chain corner stores identified through field enumeration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nutrition Environment Measure Survey for Stores (NEMS-S) to determine availability, price, and quality of fruit, vegetables, milk, cereal, beans, canned fish, meat, whole grains, and juice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparison of NEMS-S scores before and after food package changes using t tests and ordinary least squares regression to understand the role of supermarket status, WIC participation, and racial and income composition in predicting NEMS-S scores; geographic information systems to calculate proximity of residents to food stores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The availability of healthful food increased significantly in stores, overall, with more substantial increases in WIC-authorized stores. Supermarket status, WIC retail status, and NEMS-S scores at baseline were significant predictors of NEMS-S scores after the food package changes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Changes in the WIC food package were associated with increased availability of healthful food in 2 low-income neighborhoods.
authors.affiliation: Department of City and Regional Planning, School of Design, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. ahillier@design.upenn.edu
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hillier
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
authors.forename: Carolyn C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Cannuscio
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chilton
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krasny
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karpyn
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D005523:Food Supply; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D011203:Poverty; D011632:Public Assistance; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data