How the end of extra SNAP benefits affects food purchases and health
Official title: Impact of the expiration of temporary pandemic SNAP benefits on the healthfulness of supermarket food purchases
Funded at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, INC. · NIH-10932986 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how the end of extra SNAP benefits affects the food choices of lower-income families, especially those in underserved communities, to see how it impacts their food security and health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Canton, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 21, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $561,525 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NR021137-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10932986 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are low-income households that participate in the SNAP program, particularly those affected by the recent changes in benefit amounts.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not participate in the SNAP program or are not affected by the changes in benefits may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the effects of the expiration of temporary emergency SNAP benefits on the quality of food purchases made by lower-income households. It aims to understand how the reduction in benefits, which decreased by an average of $175 per household, impacts food security and health, particularly among historically underserved communities. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining analysis of household purchase data with interviews of SNAP participants and food system workers to gather insights on food access and nutrition-related chronic diseases.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and policies that enhance food security and health outcomes for low-income families.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown that changes in food assistance programs can significantly impact food security and health outcomes, indicating that this approach has been successful in similar contexts.
Where this research is happening
-
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, INC.
Canton, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Petimar, Joshua — Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, INC.
- Study coordinator: Petimar, Joshua
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.