# Early impact of a new food store intervention on health-related outcomes

## TL;DR

A new grocery store in a food desert improved food security and mental health, with effects varying by income and education.

## Contribution

This study provides empirical evidence on how food store interventions impact health outcomes in marginalized communities.

## Key findings

- Frequent shopping at the GFJ was linked to improved household food security.
- Mental health outcomes showed a dose-response relationship with GFJ usage.
- Socioeconomic factors significantly moderated the impact of the intervention.

## Abstract

This study investigated the early impact of a community-based food intervention, the Good Food Junction (GFJ), a full-service grocery store (September 2012 – January 2016) in a former food desert in Saskatoon, Canada. The hypothesis tested was that frequent shopping at the GFJ improved food security and selected health-related outcomes among shoppers, and the impact was moderated by socioeconomic factors. Longitudinal data were collected from 156 GFJ shoppers, on three occasions: 12-, 18-, and 24-months post-opening. Participants were grouped into three categories based on the frequency of shopping at the GFJ: low, moderate, and high. A generalized estimating equations approach was used for model building; moderating effects were tested. Participants were predominantly female, Indigenous, low-income, and had high school or some post-secondary education. The GFJ use was associated with household food security (OR for high and moderate frequency shoppers reporting less than a high school education were 1.81 and 1.06, respectively), and mental health (OR for high and moderate frequency shoppers reporting high income were 2.82 and 0.87, respectively) exhibiting a dose-response relationship, and indicated that these outcomes were significantly moderated by participants’ socioeconomic factors. Shopping at the GFJ had a positive effect on food security and mental health, but to varying levels for those with low incomes, with less than high school or high school or better levels of education.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-024-19052-1.