More People Buying Groceries at Discount Stores

As people attempt to reign in their food budgets, research suggests more Americans than ever are opting to get their groceries at local discount stores.

A team of investigators from Tufts University reports in the American Journal of Public Health that dollar stores have become the fastest-growing food retailers in the United States. Specifically, they’ve doubled their share of the market in rural regions.Using nationally representative data from about 50,000 households, the researchers note households that do most of their shopping at dollar stores tend to be lower income and headed by people of color. Generally speaking, as a person’s income increases, they tend to spend less at dollar stores.

What’s concerning is that foods and drinks for sale at discount stores are usually of poor nutritional quality and may contribute to the burden of disease in America. Fresh produce and meats are often not for sale, so perhaps your local dollar store might be ripe for some food-policy intervention.

See also: Distance to Supermarket Tied to Disease Risk