US — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a data brief showing that the likelihood of US adults eating fresh fruits and vegetables increases with income. The report shows a correlation between economic status and dietary habits among the adult population.

The CDC data brief covered adults older than 20 from August 2021 to August 2023. During this study period, more than 90% of Americans ate any vegetable on a given day. About 70% of Americans ate any fruit on a given day during the same timeframe.

A University of Washington study found that foods recommended by the US health department cost a mean of $15.82 per day. This figure provides context for the financial requirements of maintaining a diet aligned with federal health guidelines. The average Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program household receives $177 per month.

The average Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program household consists of two people. About 39% of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program beneficiaries are children.

"Particularly for people with lower incomes this is really infeasible, especially when millions of people – and what will be probably millions of children – are going to lose access to a really critical benefit that keeps people food secure," said Priya Fielding-Singh, director of policy and programs at the George Washington University Global Food Institute. Her statement addresses the intersection of food costs and access to assistance programs.

Food assistance enrollment fell 13% nationally between May 2025 and May 2026. Enrollment in food assistance programs declined by 47% in Arizona. These decreases occurred following legislative changes to federal aid structures.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) was signed into law on July 4, 2025. The "Big Beautiful Bill" act requires states to pay toward food benefits for the first time. The legislation also bars certain legal immigrants, including people in the US on asylum and certain trafficking survivors, from food assistance programs. Additionally, the "Big Beautiful Bill" act raises the age for people required to prove they work 20 hours a week from 54 to 64.

The US Department of Agriculture announced in September 2025 that it would no longer sponsor the Food Security Supplement in the US Census Bureau’s annual survey. The Food Security Supplement in the US Census Bureau’s annual survey had been collected annually since 1995. The US Census Bureau is U.S. agency responsible for the census and related statistics.

Why It Matters

The data indicates that income levels influence the consumption of fresh produce, while simultaneous policy changes reduce access to food assistance. The removal of the Food Security Supplement eliminates a long-standing data collection method that tracked food security trends since 1995. This change limits the ability to monitor diet-related disparities through the US Census Bureau’s annual survey.

Legislative adjustments under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act alter eligibility and state financial responsibilities for food benefits. These provisions coincide with a documented decline in national and state-level enrollment in food assistance programs. The combination of rising recommended food costs and reduced program access affects households that rely on federal aid for nutrition.