Impact of Dollar Store Food Purchases on American Diets: An In-Depth Analysis

Recent research from Tufts University School of Medicine, in collaboration with the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy and the USDA-Economic Research Service, has shed light on the role of dollar stores in American households' dietary habits. Published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the study examines whether the increasing reliance on dollar stores affects the nutritional quality of Americans' diets.

Dollar stores have become the fastest-growing retail outlets in the U.S., with over 37,000 locations nationwide, offering primarily low-cost packaged foods and beverages. While these stores provide affordability, especially in rural and lower-income areas, concerns persist about the healthfulness of the items sold, as many are high in calories and low in nutrients, and few stores carry fresh produce or meats.

The study analyzed food purchase data from 180,000 households over a period from 2008 to 2020. By comparing this data with the USDA's Purchase to Plate Crosswalk tool, researchers assessed the dietary contribution of dollar store foods. They found that calories from dollar store purchases nearly doubled during this period, rising from 3.4% to 6.5% of total household calories. The increase was especially notable among households with lower incomes and those led by people of color.

Despite the rise in dollar store calorie intake, the majority of household calories still come from grocery stores (55%) and club stores (22%). Rural households tend to shop at dollar stores more often, mainly due to accessibility issues, yet even these households still source over 90% of their calories from other outlets.

Researcher Wenhui Feng from Tufts highlighted that shopping behaviors are complex; individuals typically choose dollar stores for their lower prices but do not exclusively shop there for all their food needs. The study emphasizes that while dollar store foods are generally less healthy, households often compensate by purchasing healthier items elsewhere.

Experts like Sean Cash, a senior author of the study, point out that the perception of dollar store foods being uniformly unhealthy is oversimplified. While the shelf offerings are often calorie-dense and nutrient-poor, actual household consumption reflects a mix of various sources. The research indicates that about 55% of calories come from grocery stores, with 22% from club stores, and dollar stores contributing a smaller but rising share.

The study also discusses the policy implications, noting that some local governments have implemented restrictions on dollar store expansion, aiming to mitigate potential public health impacts. However, the effectiveness of such policies remains uncertain.

Overall, the findings suggest that dollar store purchases are contributing more to household calorie intake over time, particularly in underserved communities, but they are not the sole drivers of dietary patterns. More research is necessary to understand how these shopping choices influence long-term health and nutrition, and whether targeted interventions can improve the nutritional quality of foods purchased from dollar stores.