Adherence
SNAP participants exhibit significantly lower diet quality and fail to meet American Heart Association (AHA) ideal diet goals compared to higher-income individuals, with disparities persisting or worsening for processed meats, added sugars, and nuts/seeds between 1999 and 2014.
For adults on SNAP, simply having access to food assistance does not guarantee adherence to heart-healthy dietary guidelines. Data shows that despite overall modest improvements in US diet quality, SNAP participants have not seen similar gains, with disparities worsening in key areas like processed meat and added sugar intake. Policy and individual interventions must address specific barriers to meeting AHA goals (fruits, vegetables, whole grains, limiting sodium/SSBs) rather than assuming income eligibility alone resolves diet quality issues.
Dietary disparities persisted or worsened for most dietary components among US adults. Despite improvement in some dietary components, SNAP participants still do not meet the AHA goals for a healthful diet.
Why this rating
Large, nationally representative sample (N=38,696) using validated 24-hour recalls over 15 years.
Source
Trends and Disparities in Diet Quality Among US Adults by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Participation Status
Fang Fang Zhang et al. · JAMA Network Open · 2018
DOI 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.0237
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