Dietary Intake Contributions of Food and Beverages by Source and Food Security Status in US Adults.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the consumption patterns and diet quality of foods and beverages obtained from various sources by food security status.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of 2011-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data.

PARTICIPANTS: A total of 4,789 adults (aged >19 years) with dietary intake and food security data.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The contribution of foods and beverages to energy, nutrients, and diet quality by locations where food was obtained was compared across food security status.

ANALYSIS: Descriptive analysis and logistic regression.

RESULTS: Almost all US adults consumed food and beverages obtained from grocery stores, regardless of food security status (about 95%), which accounted for one half to two thirds of total macronutrient intakes. The diet quality of foods from grocery stores was better in highly food-secure adults. Convenience stores are used most by very low food-secure adults; those foods had the poorest diet quality profile. Dietary patterns of marginally food-secure adults more closely resembled sources and intakes of low and very low food-secure adults.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Food-insecure adults use food sources differently, resulting in diet quality differences of foods and beverages obtained. Place-based interventions in the food environment may have differential effects by food security status.