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March 21st, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda TUESDAY, March 20 (HealthDay News) — Small stores in two
low-income areas of North Philadelphia began stocking healthier foods
after changes to a popular U.S. government food-aid program, a new study
finds.
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and
Children (WIC program) is tailored to meet the nutritional needs of
lower-income pregnant women and new mothers, as well as infants and
children up to 5 years old. Under the changes introduced in 2009, the
program started giving participants vouchers to pay for fruits and
vegetables, whole-grain foods such as brown rice and whole-wheat bread,
and tofu. Other changes included a switch from whole-fat to reduced-fat
milk.
According to the study, the change prompted the corner and convenience
stores in the neighborhoods to carry vegetables, fruits, whole-grain
products, reduced-fat milk and other healthy food products.
The researchers also found that the changes to the program increased
the availability of nutritious foods without increased cost to families or
the government.
The study, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, was published
in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.
“Changes in the WIC food package helped increase access to healthy
foods in two impoverished neighborhoods,” lead author Amy Hillier, of the
University of Pennsylvania, said in a foundation news release. “Even small
corner stores started stocking fruits and vegetables, lower-fat milk and
foods that can help residents stay healthy and reduce their risk of
obesity.”
The researchers assessed 115 stores in two mostly Hispanic and black
North Philadelphia neighborhoods. Full-service chain supermarkets had the
highest availability of nutritious foods, but corner and convenience
stores enrolled in WIC showed major improvements after the program
changes.
Even stores that did not participate in WIC began to stock healthier
food items, the study found.
The researchers did not examine whether increased access to nutritious
foods actually means people in the neighborhoods have healthier diets.
“We think the people frequenting these stores are eating healthier
foods but we would need additional research to confirm that,” Hillier
said.
More information
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics offers nutrition
advice.
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