Corner markets and health in low-income neighborhoods in Buffalo, NY

This paper investigates urban retail food markets and health in the two lowest-income census tracts Buffalo, NY. The authors used a structured observational analysis of 16 corner markets and found that a majority of the markets did not sell fresh produce or low-fat dairy products but instead conducted a thriving business selling lottery tickets, mentholated cigarettes, and alcohol. A comparison of census tracts with and without access to supermarkets that sell fresh produce and other healthy food found that people living in proximity to a supermarket had significantly better health than people who did not live near a supermarket. The key to positive health outcomes, regardless of income, was access to markets that sell fresh produce, iron-enriched baby formula and low-fat milk, and accept WIC.