Appendix H_Study Fact Sheet

Appendix H

National Food Study Information

Who funds this study?

This study is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS). ERS serves as the USDA’s primary source of economic research and information. ERS has hired Westat, a social science research firm, to help test the best ways households can report the food they buy or obtain for free. Your participation will help the USDA get more complete and accurate information about the characteristics and costs of the food Americans obtain.

What does participation involve?

Participation in the National Food Study involves:

1. Answering a few questions to find out if your household can participate in the study,

2. If your household can participate, we will interview the primary shopper in your household, and will train all the members of your household to complete a one-week electronic food diary. Your household will receive $50 for completing this initial interview,

3. All members in your home age 11 or older will record all of the food obtained over a 7 day period. This includes food obtained from a grocery store, restaurant, food pantry, soup kitchen, wholesale retailer, work, friend or family member’s home, or elsewhere. We are only interested in the food that you acquire or get during the 7 day period. We do not want you to record the food you eat, only the food you get. In some cases, the food you get in a week is also the food you eat in that week—but maybe not all the time. Each person participating will receive $21 if they complete the food diary on all 7 days,

4. If you or members of your household work outside the home, each person will be asked to complete an income worksheet. Your household will receive $5 if everyone completes their income worksheet, and

5. The primary shopper will complete a final interview at the end of the week. Your household will receive a bonus of $50 if you participate in activities 1 through 5.

What do you need to participate?

Your household needs a smartphone and computer to complete the questions. If you do not own a smartphone or a laptop, we will provide you with one to participate in the study. The average household who completes the food diary daily and completes the interviews will receive up to $150 for participating in the study.