Nutritioion Schools legislate irradiated foodp. 2 Week OH ...

Nutrition
Schools legislate irradiated food...p. 2
hcPro Week OH schools serving breakfast...p. 2
FDA final detention rule details...p. 3
Racing to reauthorization...p. 7

Vol. XXXIV No. 12 June 14, 2004

Nutrition news Panel members chose language that stated consuming food
and beverages that are high in added sugar leads to consum-
Dietary Guidelines ing more calories overall and that “sugar-sweetened bever-
Committee finalizing ages are not as well-regulated as calories in solid form” by
2005 recommendations the body.

The new edition of the U.S. guidelines tells Americans to The advisory committee lauded omega-3 fatty acids, found
offset calories consumed with exercise, reduce portion in fish. Researchers say omega-3 acids reduce the risk of
sizes, and to eat a variety of foods, according to a May 27 cardiovascular disease, according to the story. The panel did
Reuters report on the guidelines draft. note, however, that the guidelines should contain an overall
warning about mercury in fish, according to Reuters.

The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee met May 26 “The pyramids are going to be tailored to the individual. A
and 27 in Bethesda, MD. Compiled every five years, the sedentary 70-year-old woman doesn’t need to have the same
new guidelines will be published in January 2005. Partici- recommendation as a very active 30-year-old man. I expect
pants will meet August 10–11 to finish compiling their changes based on level of activity, age, and gender,” said
advice about healthy eating. Elisabetti Politi, manager of the Duke University Diet and
Fitness Center, in a press release. She also expects changes
According to an agenda posted on the USDA’s Web site, to be based on carbohydrates. “Although grains and starches
experts in their respective fields discussed nutrient adequacy, are part of a healthy diet, we don’t need as many as the food
energy balance and macronutrients, fatty acids, carbohydrates, pyramid indicates,” she continued.
fluid and electrolytes, ethanol, food safety, eating a variety of
foods from the food groups, maintaining energy balance, Go to www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2005/
increasing fruits and vegetables, whole grain, and non- or low- AgendaPublicMay2004Mtg.htm to read the USDA agenda.
fat dairy consumption, decreasing saturated fat, trans fat, cho-
lesterol, salt intake, and moderating alcohol consumption. Energy goes bananas

The guideline draft instructs Americans to cut harmful fats, Scientists at the Australian Banana Growers Council
get more exercise, and watch their weight, according to the (ABGC) have discovered that bananas provide energy—
Reuters story. The draft also advised decreasing intake of satu- but not the kind you need for a good workout. Bananas
rated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol and eating more fruits, veg- provide electricity, according to a June 1 Reuters report.
etables, and whole grains, which are believed to reduce the A new study is investigating whether castoff bananas—
chance of chronic illnesses such as cancer and heart disease. those deemed unfit for consumption— combined with
bacteria to produce methane, can power 500 homes. Pipes
The American Dietetic Association (ADA), which posts would transport the methane to a turbine that could be
advice for healthful eating on its Web site, has been recom- plugged into an area’s main electricity grid. ABGC repre-
mending a similar approach to eating for years. sentatives describe the electrifying banana apparatus as a
large stomach. “Essentially it’s just like a big composting
Panel members disagreed about whether sugary drinks lead bin . . . [that] would harness the electrical capacity,”an
to obesity, according to Reuters. “I don’t like targeting a ABGC spokesperson told Reuters. Go to www.abgc.org.au/
single item,” said Theresa Nicklas of the Baylor College of pages/home.asp for more information.
Medicine in Texas. Joanne Lupton of Texas A&M Universi-
ty said research found no clear result, according to Reuters.

School foodservice news Page 2

Irradiated beef for sale, but Assembly member Loni Hancock (D-CA) introduced the Cal-
schools aren’t buying ifornia bill in February to protect schoolchildren who might
be unaware they are being served irradiated food or that it
Irradiated beef has been on sale for use in the National may be dangerous. Public Citizen and other consumer groups
School Lunch Program (NSLP) since January, but schools say irradiated food is unsafe, because the process of irradia-
aren’t interested. According to a spokesperson from the tion may create cancer-causing agents.
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, which buys the
commodities for the NSLP, no schools have requested irra- Erik Peterson, director of public awareness for the American
diated beef since Congress allowed the product’s use in the School Food Service Association (ASFSA), says his organ-
2002 Farm Bill. ization wants use of irradiated beef to be legislated.

Instead, schools are enacting legislation to prevent the “We recommend members raise the issue of purchasing irra-
product from being served. diated beef with their community [Parent Teacher Associa-
tion] and school board to discuss its use and what it means.
On May 27, AB 1988, the California Safe School Lunch If the school board approves it, ASFSA recommends that
Act, passed the state assembly floor. It will soon go to the members label it and offer an alternative item that day that’s
Senate, according to a May 28 Public Citizen press release. not irradiated,” Peterson says.
The bill requires school board approval for irradiated food
to be served. The legislation also mandates that parents must The USDA says irradiation is a tool to enhance food safety,
be notified of irradiated food use and a nonirradiated alterna- citing the FDA’s 1997 approval of the process. The agency
tive must be offered. also says food irradiation has been approved in 37 countries
for more than 40 food products. The United Nation’s World
The Washington, DC, school board also passed a resolution Health Organization, Codex Alimentarius Commission,
against irradiated products on May 19. The resolution for- American Medical Association, and many others have
bids DC schools from purchasing the foods for any of their endorsed the process.
meal programs for the next five years, after which the board
will reassess the health concerns of such foods. To read California bill AB 1988, visit www.leginfo.ca.gov.
To learn more about irradiated foods and their inclusion in
Hunger news the NSLP, visit www.safelunch.org.

Ohio’s hungry children Ohio policymakers can improve child nutrition programs,
getting breakfast including increasing participation in the school breakfast
program by requiring schools to offer the program when
Every day in Ohio, 309,000 people go hungry, and 129,000 20% or more of students qualify for free lunch, rather than
of them are children, according to the Columbus-based the current guideline of 33%.
organization Children’s Hunger Alliance.
In contrast to states such as West Virginia, where all
The organization’s goal is to expand access to food, nutri- schools must offer breakfast, Ohio schools with fewer than
tion education, and quality child care. Charlie Kozlesay, 33% of students who qualify for free lunch don’t have to
senior vice president of community engagement, spoke offer the first meal of the day.
with Nutrition Week about the measures the organization
is taking to help feed the state’s hungry children. So far the alliance’s incentive action toward 1,600 pro-
grams that didn’t offer breakfast has been successful. Data
The alliance is collaborating with the Ohio Department of indicates that about 150 new breakfast programs have been
Education and school districts to educate schools about started this year, Kozlesay says.
USDA programs. “This year, we’ve found a lot of Ohio
school districts that say they can’t offer breakfast because The alliance is also working with several school districts to
they don’t have a high-poverty range. A big misunderstand- reevaluate vending contracts and develop a system that is
ing in Ohio is that food is just for high-poverty programs,” both economically feasible for schools and healthy for
says Kozlesay. children. If schools serve more nutritious foods, such as
water and 100% fruit juice, in vending machines, they can
On its Web site, the alliance recommends several ways that claim more reimbursement from the USDA and foster
healthier children, says Kozlesay.
June 14, 2004
For more information, go to www.ohtf.org/.

© 2004 HCPro, Inc.

Page 3

Food safety news request, the hearing must be held within two calendar days
after the date the appeal was filed. Another difference is that

the FDA presiding officer must issue a written report of the

Bioterror act grants FDA hearing. The claimant has four hours to review that report
authority to detain and issue comments. To reduce confusion, the FDA also
clarified terminology. The proposed rule used the term “lim-

suspicious foods ited conditional release” to refer to the process whereby the
FDA grants a request to modify a detention order to permit

movement of detained food; the final rule uses the term

The FDA now has more authority to detain risky food, as its “request for modification of a detention order.”

Administrative Detention Final Rule took effect May 27.

The rule allows the agency to hold suspicious food under the Under the FDA’s previous policy, states where the suspect

auspices of the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Pre- food was found were asked to embargo the product while

paredness and Response Act of 2002, according to a May 27 the FDA obtained a court order to seize it. Now the FDA

FDA press release. Under the rule, the FDA can detain food can act on its own authority.

if there is evidence or information that the food threatens

human or animal health or causes death. According to Leslye M. Fraser, MS, JD, associate director

for regulations at the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and

It doesn’t matter whether the cause of concern about a food Applied Nutrition, the rule applies to all food that FDA

is believed to be intentional (i.e., in the case of a bioterror regulates, including perishable, nonperishable, and animal

event) or unintentional (e.g., as in the case of foodborne foods and dietary supplements—anything defined as food

illness contamination). under section 201(f) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cos-

metic Act. The rule applies to both

This rule is the third of four the domestic and imported food, as well.

FDA has published in accordance “NFPA strongly believes FDA’s

with the bioterrorism act, the goal use of administrative detention If the suspicious food goes bad

of which is to safeguard the U.S. authority should rarely be used while it’s being held, the FDA will
food supply. The fourth rule will be . . . the request for a voluntary not reimburse the claimant. “We
announced soon, according to recall still represents the most want to make sure that we err on the
Lester M. Crawford, DVM, PhD, side of consumer safety,” said a

MVD, acting commissioner. “We viable option for a majority spokesperson during the teleconfer-

are pleased with how these rules are of these situations.” ence. “The food might go bad, but
working out,” Crawford said during we don’t have the authority to

a May 27 teleconference. —John Cady authorize reimbursement.”

The final rule allows an FDA officer to detain food up to John Cady, president and chief executive officer of the Na-
30 days on evidence of a threat of adverse consequences. tional Food Processors Association (NFPA), commented on
The term “serious adverse health consequences” will be the FDA’s announcement in a May 27 press release. “NFPA
defined in a separate rule announced later, Crawford said. strongly believes FDA’s use of administrative detention author-
FDA may require that food be labeled, which means it then ity should rarely be used. We believe that the request for a
cannot be eaten, moved, or touched, nor its label be chang- voluntary recall still represents the most viable option for a
ed or removed without FDA approval. The agency deter- majority of these situations, with detention being considered
mines how and where the food will be held. as a second option,” he said.

Anyone whose food is seized may protest the detention “Prior to this new detention authority, the food industry
order and request a hearing. If the hearing is granted, an has demonstrated the desire and ability to act quickly and
FDA official will serve as officer. The FDA must make a responsively to prevent the public from being exposed to
decision on the claimant’s appeal within five days. potentially harmful foods. This is demonstrated by the in-
dustry’s voluntary cooperation in Class I recall situations
The current detention rule is the compendium of hundreds and self-initiated actions that occur without FDA involve-
of comments the FDA received on its first proposed rule, ment,” Cady said.
which was offered for public comment on May 9, 2003.
There are several differences between the proposed and final Go to www.fda.gov/OHRMS/DOCKETS/98fr/02n-0275-
rules. In the new rule, the agency must include the name of nfr0001-01.pdf to download the final rule. Visit www.
the representative who approved the detention. Also, if a nfpa-ood.org/NewsReleases/NFPAPressRelease052704.htm
hearing is requested in the appeal and the agency grants that to read the NFPA press release.

© 2004 HCPro, Inc. June 14, 2004

Page 4

Low-Income Households’ Expenditures
on Fruits and Vegetables

Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from the USDA Economic buy mostly processed fruits and vegetables. Or it might be
Research Service report Low-Income Households’ Expendi- possible that certain fresh fruits and vegetables are actually
tures on Fruits and Vegetables, May 2004. Go to www.ers. the least expensive, given imports during the winter months.
usda.gov/publications/AER833/ to download the report. In any case, for thoroughness, we decided to test whether
dominance holds for only fresh fruits and vegetables or only
A consumer expenditure (CE) survey of the Bureau of Labor processed fruits and vegetables.
Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, finds that low-income
households spend significantly less per person for fruits and Spending on fresh fruits and vegetables by higher-income
vegetables than other households. This result holds true for households clearly dominates that of lower-income households.
all fruits and vegetables, fresh fruits and vegetables, and For instance, 24% of low-income households spend no money
processed fruits and vegetables. Furthermore, a demand on fresh fruits and vegetables v. only 13% of higher-income
analysis finds that an additional dollar of income in a low- households. This gap continues to hold at higher levels of
income household (less than 130% of the poverty line) will expenditure. Among lower-income households, 73% spend
probably be allocated to food groups other than fruits and $3 or less on fresh fruits and vegetables compared with 62%
vegetables or to other needs deemed more important to the of higher-income households.
household. Variables that positively influence fruit and veg-
etable expenditures by low-income households include hav- Further analysis shows that expenditures by higher-income
ing a household head with a college education and having households on processed fruits and vegetables also stochasti-
household members who are at least 75 years old. Variables cally dominate those of lower-income households, although
that positively influence fruit and vegetable expenditures by the results are weaker than for fresh fruits and vegetables. In
higher-income households include household heads with a this situation, we found that stochastic dominance held for
high school degree, some college, or a college education, over 97.4% of the expenditure distribution. The cumulative
and household members between the ages of 65 and 74.
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Page 5

distribution function (CDF) associated with spending by low- does not meet the recommended dietary intake, as outlined

income households again lies everywhere above the same in the federal food-guide pyramid. Moreover, research shows

CDF for higher-income households. For instance, 30% of that low-income households on average consume even smaller

low-income households spend nothing on processed fruits quantities than other households. Along with these arguments,

and vegetables v. only 19% of higher-income households. there has also been much talk about ways to promote fruit

Similarly, the gap remains significant at $7 per capita. We and vegetable consumption. The findings of this study may

found that 98% of low-income households spend this much suggest likely outcomes for some proposals. This analysis,

or less on processed fruits and vegetables compared with as well as other studies such as those by Wilde et al., indi-

97% of the higher-income group. However, the distance cates that it may be difficult to induce low-income house-

between the two CDFs is not statistically different from a 0 holds to increase their expenditures on fruits and vegetables.

difference at levels of expenditure greater than $7 per capita. Low-income households will likely allocate an extra dollar

Clearly, higher-income households spent more per person of income or food stamps to what low-income households

per week than low-income households over the majority of perceive as more basic, and thus more desirable, food groups.

the expenditure distribution. It also appears that this result Perhaps more nutrition education, coupled with food stamps,

holds for both fresh and processed items, although the might induce the low-income households to purchase and

results are not as strong for processed items. The second consume more fruits and vegetables. However, we would

phase in our analysis is to assess whether purchases of fruits make a distinction between the effect of formal education

and vegetables by low-income and that of nutritional education. This

households are influenced by Our statistical demand has been the subject of much debate.
changes in their income, and, if so,

to what extent. model indicates that One argument put forward is that house-

low-income households are holds with higher education are better

Are expenditures sensitive not likely to allocate an extra able to process and use nutritional
to changes in income? dollar in income or food information. This may very well be the
Interestingly, households in the North case. However, it is also possible that,

Central, South, and West states all stamps to increased on average, people who invest the time

spent less per capita than those in the expenditures on fruits and effort required to secure a college

Northeast. This may be a function of and vegetables. education, or higher, also value the
higher prices in the Northeast, a pref- future more highly than those who do

erence for fruits and vegetables, or a not have a college. These college-edu-

combination of both. Larger households spend more per cated households may view healthy diets as one avenue to

capita than smaller households do. (The negative sign on the realizing their economic and social goals in the future. This

inverse of household size indicates a positive effect.) Larger viewpoint might be contrasted to that of people who are

households have higher food-at-home food expenditures than unsure about their future. These individuals may put more

smaller households do. Hence, larger households spent more value on the present, and thereby be less concerned about their

time preparing meals from scratch, and, thereby, use more raw current diet’s effect on future health. However, the likeli-

ingredients. Following this logic, it is not surprising that hood of success of a nutrition education program, coupled

expenditures on fruits and vegetables are higher for larger with food stamps targeted toward fruits and vegetables, is an

households. empirical problem that would have to be studied with the

aid of actual data.

Also, it is interesting that household members through age

44 exerted a negative influence on fruit and vegetable expen- This analysis indicates higher-income households are in-

ditures. Often children and adolescents do not care for fruits come sensitive to fruit and vegetable expenditures and will

and (especially) vegetables, but households with members spend a small but statistically significant amount of an addi-

ages 20–44 also spent a significantly less amount than house- tional dollar on fruits and vegetables. Furthermore, household

holds with members ages 45–64. Most noteworthy is that the heads with a college education spend a significantly higher

largest positive effect comes from households whose head sum on fruits and vegetables than do other households regard-

has a college education or higher. This confirms our finding less of income level. Again, it may be that college-educated

in the profile section and contrasts to the positive but small- households are more aware of the benefits that may be derived

er estimated parameters for those heads with some college from fruit and vegetable consumption, regardless of the in-

or a high school education. come situation of the household. (It would be interesting to see

these households consume the recommended levels of fruits

Conclusion and vegetables.) In any case, the results presented above point

Both public and private organizations have argued that, on out the importance that income and formal education currently

average, Americans’ consumption of fruits and vegetables play in American households’ fruit and vegetable expenditures.

© 2004 HCPro, Inc. June 14, 2004

Page 6

Briefly Emergency food providers are reporting revealed no cause for the children’s illness so far. Individuals
a surge in demand from the families of who have become sick after eating Del Rey’s tortillas should
contact their local health department. Go to www.fda.gov/bbs/
noted military reservists, according to a June 2 topics/news/2004/NEW01074.html to read the FDA press
editorial in The Oregonian. Families are release.

living for longer periods of time on mili-

Hungry military tary salaries that are considerably less

families than those on which they previously sub- USDA agriculture The USDA released its 2002 Census of
census released
sisted when the breadwinner was employ- Agriculture, according to a June 3 agency

ed in the private sector, and many need food aid. America’s press release. The census is conducted

Second Harvest, a Chicago-based national alliance of food every five years by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statis-

banks, announced a program on May 27 to provide informa- tics Service (NASS). Data are collected from any business

tion about emergency food support to families of National that sold more than $1,000 of agricultural products during the

Guardsmen and reservists. Troops qualify for aid as soon as year. Among its findings, the census determined that half of

they’re called in for full-time service. America’s farms and ranches have Internet access and nearly

39% use a computer to do business. So far, the government

Retired Colonel Dennis Spiegel, deputy director of the private has provided over $253 million in broadband loans for rural
organization Army Emergency Relief, told The Oregonian
that states have asked the Department of Defense to explain areas, according to the press release. “We are making more
how food stamps and WIC nutrition programs work for mili-
tary families. Requests for help from National Guard and information available to farmers and ranchers through the
reserve troops increased dramatically from 2002 to 2003,
according to the story. Go to www.secondharvest.org/ Internet and helping to provide broadband access to rural
site_content.asp?s=595 to read more about the Second Har-
vest program. communities,” said Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman in

the press release. To read more about the census and its find-

ings, go to www.usda.gov/Newsroom/0219.04.html.

Hungry children are Children raised in hungry homes are

Four children fell ill between May 2003 unhealthy much more likely to be unhealthy, ac-
and 2004 from meals served at several children cording to a study published in the June

Suspicious Journal of Nutrition. Researchers collected data on 11,539
tortillas

schools in Massachusetts. The FDA, the youngsters and found that children three years or younger

Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and the CDC are with limited access to healthy food were 90% more likely to

investigating the problem, according to a June 2 FDA press be in only fair or poor health and 30% more likely to be hos-

release. The children experienced nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, pitalized. “The results . . . are very disturbing,’’ John Cook,

stomach cramps, and dizziness. Most became sick an hour associate professor of pediatrics at Boston University School

after they ate and were sick for a day. A majority ate Del Rey of Medicine and lead author of the study, told the Boston Her-

Tortilleria or Pan De Oro tortillas produced by Chicago com- ald in a June 1 story. Seventeen percent of American house-

pany Del Rey Tortilleria, Inc. FDA research and lab tests have holds with children have limited or uncertain access to food,

Editorial Advisory Board Nutrition
Week
Robert Earl, MPH, RD
Senior Director, Nutrition Policy Nutrition Week (ISSN: 0736-0096) is published biweekly, except for the third week
National Food Processors Association, Washington, DC in March, the second week in September, and the first and last weeks in December
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781/639-2982, E-mail: [email protected].
Marion Nestle, PhD, MPH
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Page 7

added Carol Berkowitz, a pediatrician at Harbor-UCLA NAHO plans to end The 13 antihunger organizations that
Medical Center and coinvestigator of the study. Poor nutrition hunger by 2015 form the coalition National Anti-Hunger
weakens children’s immune systems and learning ability, Organizations (NAHO) released their
Cook told the Herald. Go to www.nutrition.org/cgi/content/
abstract/134/6/1432 to read the study abstract. Blueprint to End Hunger in America, a companion to the
group’s 2003 Declaration to End Hunger, on National Hunger
Metabolic Metabolic syndrome, a congenital condi- Awareness Day, according to a June 3 Food Research and Ac-
syndrome linked tion that may make individuals prone to tion Center (FRAC) press release.
cardiovascular disease, was identified in
to obesity “Our nation has the tools and resources to end hunger. Our blue-
print offers a realistic plan for achieving that goal,” said H. Eric
many of 439 obese children and adolescents involved in a Schockman, NAHO chair and president of MAZON: A Jewish
Response to Hunger, said in the release. “Now we need to re-
recent study, according to a June 3 Center for Health and double efforts to educate policymakers and the public. We must
build the national commitment to get this vital job done.”
Health Care in Schools press release. “The prevalence of the
More than 34 million Americans—13 million of which are
metabolic syndrome increased with the severity of obesity children—go hungry or nearly hungry, according to the press
release. NAHO aims to halve hunger by 2010 and end it by
and reached 50% in severely obese youngsters,” the 2015. It details strategies to improve access to the food pro-
grams, among others. Go to www.frac.org/html/news/
researchers said. Press_06.04.04.html to read the press release and download
the Blueprint.
Researchers administered glucose-tolerance tests and meas-
ured the subjects’ blood pressure and plasma lipid. The arti-
cle, “Obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome in Children and
Adolescents” was published in the June 3 New England Jour-
nal of Medicine. Read the abstract at http://content.nejm.org.
Go to www.healthinschools.org/2004/jun03_alert.asp to read
the press release.

Food legislation news and beginning July 25, the Senate will recess for six weeks.

Reauthorization still Negotiations are also holding up the process. The House
pending as deadline for and Senate are working out a provision on competitive
child nutrition looms foods—those foods that compete with the foods served in
the school breakfast and National School Lunch programs.
The Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act of 2004 passed Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), an avid supporter of child
the Senate Agriculture Committee on May 19. Since then, nutrition reauthorization, raised an amendment at commit-
the legislation has been inching forward, but not without tee markup, which subsequently failed, that reflected the
some hitches. The Child Nutrition Improvement and In- House bill by establishing local school wellness policies,
tegrity Act of 2004 passed the House Education and Work- but also called for a National Academy of Sciences study
force Committee on March 10. The Senate is due to file on all foods sold in schools. Harkin’s amendment failed by
their version of the legislation soon, but the clock is ticking a vote of 13 to seven. The House and Senate are also dis-
as the temporary program extension currently in effect is cussing how to handle WIC-only stores.
set to expire June 30.
Both the Senate and House child-nutrition bills reauthorize
“House committee staff has been adamant that they want a three provisions that are due to expire. Both support the 14-
bill passed and signed before the current continuing resolu- state Lugar summer-food pilots and the eligibility of for-
tion runs out,” says Ellen Teller, a Food Research and profit child care centers for the Child and Adult Care Food
Action Center (FRAC) spokesperson. There is a great deal Program if 25% of children are eligible for free or reduced-
of pressure on the Senate to get the bill to the floor in the price meals. The bills also support the exclusion of privatized
next few weeks so the House can pass it before the July 4 military housing from income when determining eligibility
recess commences, she says. for school meals.

“The hope is that when the bill gets to the Senate floor, it will Teller predicts action within the next two weeks. “Every-
get unanimous consent—a straight up-or-down vote with no body wants to see a child nutrition reauthorization bill
amendments,” says Teller. The process is limited by Senate completed this year,” she says. “But since Congress is in an
time constraints: Fourth of July recess is June 26 to July 6, election year, anything is possible.” Go to www.frac.org/html/
federal_food_programs/cnreauthor/052804reauth.htm for
FRAC’s full analyses.

© 2004 HCPro, Inc. June 14, 2004

Nutrition PERIODICALS
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Fruit and vegetable spending and education levels

Spending per person on fruits and vegetables increased for all four major subcategories with per person spending
from $5.55 in 1991 to $5.99 in 2000 for households headed increasing the most for fresh fruit ($0.23) and increasing
by people with four or more years of college education. the least for processed vegetables ($0.03).

By comparison, spending per person on fruits and vegeta- Although each group increased how much they spent on
bles dropped between 1991 and 2000 for household heads fruits and vegetables between 1991 and 2000, households
without a high school diploma, with a high school diploma, whose head have a college education increased their budget
and with fewer than four years of college. share by 1.6 percentage points.

For college-educated households, per person spending on Household heads without a high school diploma increased
fruits and vegetables was about 27% higher than the total 0.4 percentage points. Households whose head has some
U.S. average. In fact, expenditures for this group increased college increased 0.2 percentage points.

Household budget shares of fruit and vegetables by educational
attainment of household head, 2000 (in U.S. Dollars)

No high school High school Some college College grad

Category 4.26 4.25 4.30 5.99
Fruits and vegetables 1.41 1.26 1.35 1.99
Fresh fruit
Other fresh fruit .51 .50 .61 .94
Fresh Vegetables 1.38 1.29 1.31 1.81
Other fresh vegetables 1.01
Processed fruit .67 .62 .65 1.33
Processed vegetables .86 .96 .93 .86
Frozen vegetables .62 .74 .71 .29
.15 .23 .22

Source: The USDA’s Economic Research Service, Consumer Expenditure Survey;
www.ers.usda.gov/publications/AER833/.

June 14, 2004 © 2004 HCPro, Inc.