Evaluation of a State-Level Incentive Program to Improve Diet

Is a state-level Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) fruit and vegetable incentive program with automatic enrollment associated with improved dietary intake among adults with low income?In this pre-post cohort study with a comparison site including 725 SNAP participants, the 50% incentive program resulted in a modest, nonsignificant increase in fruit and vegetable intake (0.12 cup equivalents per 1000 kcal). Participants with higher baseline consumption of fruits and vegetables showed significant increases (0.29 cup equivalents per 1000 kcal), while consumers with a lower baseline level showed no change.This study suggests that financial incentives may be associated with improved diet among individuals already inclined toward healthy eating, indicating that targeted implementation strategies are needed.

Corresponding Author: Alison Tovar, PhD, MPH, Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, School of Public Health, Brown University, 121 S Main St, Providence, Rhode Island 02903 (alison_tovar@brown.edu).

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