The Baltimore Urban Food Distribution (BUD) App: Study Protocol to Assess the Feasibility of a Food Systems Intervention

Joel Gittelsohn, Emma C. Lewis, Nina M. Martin, Siyao Zhu, Lisa Poirier, Ellen J. I. Van Dongen, Alexandra Ross, Samantha M. Sundermeir, Alain B. Labrique, Melissa M. Reznar, Takeru Igusa and Antonio J. Trujillo
Additional contact information
Joel Gittelsohn: Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
Emma C. Lewis: Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
Nina M. Martin: Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
Siyao Zhu: Department of Civil and Systems Engineering, Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
Lisa Poirier: Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
Ellen J. I. Van Dongen: GGD Noord-en Oost-Gelderland, 7231 AC Warnsveld, The Netherlands
Alexandra Ross: Nutrition Epidemiology, School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina Gillings, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
Samantha M. Sundermeir: Human Nutrition, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
Alain B. Labrique: Global Disease Epidemiology and Control, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
Melissa M. Reznar: Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, Oakland University School of Health Sciences, Detroit, MI 48309, USA
Takeru Igusa: Department of Civil and Systems Engineering, Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
Antonio J. Trujillo: Health Systems, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 15, 1-17

Abstract: Low-income urban communities in the United States commonly lack ready access to healthy foods. This is due in part to a food distribution system that favors the provision of high-fat, high-sugar, high-sodium processed foods to small retail food stores, and impedes their healthier alternatives, such as fresh produce. The Baltimore Urban food Distribution (BUD) study is a multilevel, multicomponent systems intervention that aims to improve healthy food access in low-income neighborhoods of Baltimore, Maryland. The primary intervention is the BUD application (app), which uses the power of collective purchasing and delivery to affordably move foods from local producers and wholesalers to the city’s many corner stores. We will implement the BUD app in a sample of 38 corner stores, randomized to intervention and comparison. Extensive evaluation will be conducted at each level of the intervention to assess overall feasibility and effectiveness via mixed methods, including app usage data, and process and impact measures on suppliers, corner stores, and consumers. BUD represents one of the first attempts to implement an intervention that engages multiple levels of a local food system. We anticipate that the app will provide a financially viable alternative for Baltimore corner stores to increase their stocking and sales of healthier foods, subsequently increasing healthy food access and improving diet-related health outcomes for under-resourced consumers. The design of the intervention and the evaluation plan of the BUD project are documented here, including future steps for scale-up. Trial registration #: NCT05010018.

Keywords: food access; retailers; obesity; urban; multilevel interventions; policy; study design (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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