Using multiple methods to examine the association between food access, food purchasing and consumption patterns of new orleans residents

BACKGROUND: New Orleans is a city with documented food access issues. Changes in the New Orleans food environment are expected due to the introduction of the Fresh Food Retailer Initiative, a $14 million citywide program encouraging new or expanded food stores to sell fresh produce in underserved areas. METHODS: To examine the food landscape, data will be drawn from an annual enumeration of all food stores and in-store measures from a representative random sample of stores throughout Orleans Parish. In June-July 2011, a brief phone survey assessing food purchasing and consumption behaviors was conducted on a citywide random sample of New Orleans residents (n=3,000). A repeat survey is planned for 2013. Household interviews among a cohort of primary food shoppers (n=700) residing in two low-income neighborhoods currently underserved by full-service grocery stores will provide a detailed view of food purchasing and consumption patterns among these residents. Follow-up is planned after the opening of a new supermarket (December 2013) in one study neighborhood. Phone and household survey respondents will be geo-coded and matched to stores. RESULTS: Results from all methods will be presented and differences in food shopping and consumption patterns will be examined by geographic proximity to food stores, frequency of food shopping, and various demographic factors. CONCLUSIONS: The use of these multiple methods can be an effective way to examine the food environment on both a macro (city) and micro (neighborhood) level and to describe relationships between differing residential food environments and associated food purchasing and dietary patterns.