Food stamps are associated with food security and dietary intake of inner-city preschoolers from Hartford, Connecticut

The goal of the present study was to examine the association of the Food St amp Program with the food security and dietary intake of low-income childre n from Hartford, CT, who were enrolled in the Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). We compared the food and nutrition sit uation of low-income preschoolers who received food stamps (FS, n = 59) wit h that of those who did not receive food stamps (NFS, n = 40). Children wer e an average age of 2.7 +/- 0.6 y, and 95% were receiving WIC benefits at t he time of the study. Groups were comparable in demographic characteristics , but the socioeconomic status of the FS group was lower than that of the N FS group (P < 0.05). Food security was assessed with the Radimer/Cornell hu nger scale, and dietary intake was assessed with a single 24-h recall and a 14-item food frequency questionnaire. Multivariate analyses within the FS group indicated that a monthly duration of food stamps of <4 wk was a predi ctor of household food security (odds ratio 0.10, 95% confidence interval 0 .02-0.56). Food stamp use was associated with above-median energy-adjusted intakes of vitamin B-6 (3.13, 1.16-8.45), folate (2.92, 1.09-7.81) and iron (3.72, 1.31-10.54). The NFS children were more likely to consume <8 mg iro n/d (3.73, 1.09-12.80). These results suggest that the Food Stamp Program i s associated with food security and preschoolers' micronutrient intake.