Access to healthy and unhealthy food items in urban grocery stores: How store audit data can describe a food environment considering customer ethnicity

INTRODUCTION: Previous research has documented disparities in access to healthy foods in smaller versus larger grocery stores. Smaller grocery stores are more prevalent in urban minority communities. Studies examining differential availability of healthy and unhealthy foods in Latino communities are limited. METHODS: Store audit data from 10 Latino (tiendas) and 15 non-Latino grocery stores were identified as the main source of groceries for 80% of families enrolled in a childhood obesity study in South San Diego County. We compared the availability, quality, and cost of various foods and the relative availability of energy dense snacks (EDS) by store ethnicity. RESULTS: Tiendas were smaller than non-Latino stores (5 versus 12 aisles, p=0.003). Availability and quality of fresh produce did not differ by store ethnicity. Price per unit was lower in tiendas for most fresh produce. The cost to meet the U.S.D.A. recommended weekly servings of produce based on a 2,000 calorie per day diet was $3 lower in tiendas versus non-Latino stores (p<0.001). The cost of one gallon of skim milk was significantly higher in tiendas ($3.29 versus $2.69; p=0.005), and lean (7% fat) ground beef was available in only one tienda versus 10 (67%) non-Latino stores (p=0.01). When adjusted for store size, the relative availability of EDS was the same, despite a greater proportion of Latino-brand snack foods available in tiendas. DISCUSSION: Store audit data can shed light on similarities and differences in the access to healthy and unhealthy food options in tiendas compared to larger grocery stores.