A new CDC report underscores a longstanding economic divide in dietary habits, revealing that higher-income adults consistently consume more fresh fruits and vegetables than their lower- and middle-income counterparts. The findings come amid sharp declines in food assistance enrollment following Republican-led cuts to programs like food stamps, raising concerns about access to nutritious meals. Meanwhile, recent updates to U.S. dietary guidelines—prioritizing pricier animal proteins and produce—have further widened the gap, as studies show these recommended foods are disproportionately expensive for budget-conscious households. The report raises questions about how policy shifts may deepen existing disparities in health and nutrition.
The report highlights deep divides between low- and middle- income, a disparity that dates back decadesA new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reaffirms that adults are more likely to eat fresh fruits and vegetables as their income increases.The data brief comes as Republican cuts to food assistance programs, colloquially called “food stamps”, have led enrollment to “plummet”. Changes to US dietary guidelines, led by health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, have also made a government-recommended diet more expensive. A new “food pyramid” released in January emphasized animal protein, fresh fruit and vegetables, all of which cost more, according to studies. Continue reading...
