Rising inflation at the supermarket has changed the way Americans buy food, altering family menus and daily diets as shoppers stretch their dollars to feed their families. Higher food prices
hurt those with lower incomes the most, limiting access to healthy food and impacting long-term health.
In particular, the price of healthy foods has surged. One study from the University of Warwick found that Americans pay 40% more for fruits and vegetables due to enormous fixed costs in supplying them to markets, resulting in less consumption of these healthier foods. A 2022 national survey found that the perceived high cost of healthy food was the biggest barrier to a healthier diet, with nearly half (46%) of respondents saying so.
The result is that Americans are compensating by eating too many sugary and ultra-processed foods — which tend to be cheaper and more durable — and not enough fruits, vegetables, and other nutrient-rich whole foods. Despite government programs encouraging and subsidizing healthy foods, the problem is only growing.
"There's evidence that inflation continues to shape food choices, particularly for low-income Americans who prioritize price over healthfulness,"
Constance Brown-Riggs, MSEd, RDN, CDCES, CDN, a registered nurse and nutritionist specializing in
diabetes care, told Stacker.
According to the International Food Information Council's 2024 Food & Health Survey, at least 3 in 4 American consumers cited price as a key driver of food purchases; however, just over half (55%) of low-income households ranked healthfulness as a top factor. In contrast, the healthfulness of food purchases only became more important than the price for those households earning $100,000 or more.
