Impact of SNAP benefit cuts on people's healthy grocery choices
Official title: Impact of the expiration of emergency SNAP benefits on the healthfulness of supermarket food purchases
Funded at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, INC. · NIH-11389457 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research study looks at how ending emergency SNAP benefits in March 2023 affected what people buy for healthy food and how it relates to chronic disease risk.
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 | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $556,677 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NR021137-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11389457 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People in households that receive SNAP benefits and were affected by the March 2023 reduction in emergency allotments.
✕Less likely to help
Households not relying on SNAP or not affected by the benefit reduction may not experience changes in food purchasing behavior.
What this research studies
This project will examine how the expiration of emergency SNAP allotments changed household food purchases, using real purchase data and talking with families to understand their decisions. Researchers will link shopping patterns to factors like rural vs. urban living, economic stability, and local store options to see who is most affected. The study uses a mix of data analysis and interviews to capture both numbers and lived experiences, aiming to identify ways to protect healthy eating when benefits change.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could inform policies and programs that help families keep buying healthy foods even when benefits are reduced.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that benefit changes influence food purchasing, but this study uniquely combines household purchase data with qualitative interviews across diverse communities.
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.