Adult beneficiaries of federal food programs rank dairy products among the most nutritious food items that they can purchase, and a majority of them indicate they would purchase more nutritious milk and cheese if they were provided an additional incentive to do so, according to a new Morning Consult national tracking poll commissioned by IDFA.
Methodology: The poll was conducted between April 13-15, 2022 among a sample of 456 Adults on Federal Food Programs. The interviews were conducted online and the data were weighted to approximate a target sample of Adults on Federal Food Programs based on gender, age, race, educatio nal attainment, and region. Results from the full survey have a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.
Key results from the poll are below. The full results are available to IDFA members who are logged into IDFA.org.
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- Buying habits of adults on federal nutrition programs
- Views on nutritional products amongst adults on federal nutrition programs
- How to incentivize nutritious dairy purchases amongst adults on federal nutrition programs
Adults on federal food programs typically buy whole milk (46%) or 2% milk (39%), although one in four (24%) typically buy cream, too. Skim milk ranked the lowest (7%) among milks.
Roughly half of SNAP (47%) and WIC (49%) participants also typically buy whole milk, although one-quarter of WIC participants (24%) typically buy 1% milk.
Of the types of milk tested, whole milk was seen as the most nutritious. Six in ten adults on federal food programs (60%) see cow’s milks as most nutritious.
Cheese is the most common dairy product purchased by adults on federal food programs. More than half of respondents purchase each of these dairy items, except cottage cheese and cream.
Adults on federal food programs mostly find these dairy food items affordable. Four in five (80%) said milk is affordable.
Half of adults on federal food programs (51%) say dairy foods represent the healthiest diet.
Given a discount, over half of adults on federal food programs are interested in buying more cheese (62%), milk (55%), and yogurt (51%).
Three in five SNAP participants (60%) would buy more dairy products if they received additional benefits through SNAP to buy healthy foods.
IDFA Staff Contacts
Matt Herrick
Senior Vice President, Public Affairs & Communications
Andrew Jerome
Vice President, Communications