Geographic Differences in the Relative Price of Healthy Foods

Jessica Todd, Ephraim Leibtag and Corttney Penberthy

No 117976, Economic Information Bulletin from United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service

Abstract: Although healthy foods can be affordable, if less healthy foods are cheaper, individuals may have an economic incentive to consume a less healthful diet. Using the Quarterly Food-at-Home Price Database, we explore whether a select set of healthy foods (whole grains, dark green vegetables, orange vegetables, whole fruit, skim and 1% milk, fruit juice, and bottled water) are more expensive than less healthy alternatives. We find that not all healthy foods are more expensive than less healthy alternatives; skim and 1% milk are less expensive than whole and 2% milk and bottled water is generally less expensive than carbonated nonalcoholic drinks. We also find considerable geographic variation in the relative price of healthy foods. This price variation may contribute to geographic variation in diet and health outcomes.

Keywords: Agricultural and Food Policy; Consumer/Household Economics; Demand and Price Analysis; Food Consumption/Nutrition/Food Safety; Health Economics and Policy; Public Economics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 34
Date: 2011-06
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (17)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:uersib:117976

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.117976

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