00:00Dollar stores are shaking up American grocery shopping, offering low prices but few healthy options.
00:06A new study from Tufts University and the USDA dives into what families really buy and how it affects their diets.
00:15Published Monday, the study finds that while dollar store foods are often less nutritious, families make up for it with healthier purchases elsewhere.
00:23The lead author emphasized just because dollar store shelves have less healthy food does not mean families take home those items.
00:31The research tracked more than 180,000 households from 2008 to 2020.
00:37It shows calories bought at dollar stores doubled from 3.4 percent to 6.5 percent.
00:43Low-income families, rural residents and certain racial groups rely more on these stores where food is generally less healthy.
00:50Rural communities in particular depend on dollar stores as a vital food source.
00:55But here's a surprise.
00:57Overall diet quality between dollar store shoppers and others is pretty similar.
01:02It seems families balance cheaper, less nutritious buys with better choices elsewhere.
01:07The study also flags issues beyond nutrition, like local business impacts and safety concerns linked to understaffing.
01:14More than 25 local governments have tried to limit dollar store growth, but results are unclear.
01:21Tufts' Sean Cash says some shoppers use dollar stores for sweets and snacks, buying less of those items elsewhere.
01:28Researchers say more data is needed to fully understand the impact of dollar stores on healthy eating,
01:34cautioning that some communities may be making policy decisions too quickly.
01:39For Straight Arrow News, I'm Kayleigh Carey.
01:41Find the full story right now on SAN.com or by downloading the Straight Arrow News mobile app today.
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