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Abstract
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Household Food Acquisition and
Purchase Survey (FoodAPS) is the first nationally representative household survey to
collect data on foods purchased or acquired during a survey week, producing results that
are both nationally representative and representative of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants as well as of low-income non-SNAP households. In order to assess the quality of FoodAPS data, this report compares estimates from FoodAPS to estimates from other national-level food-related surveys, examining: (1) general demographic and socio-economic characteristics; (2) food expenditures; (3) food security; (4) SNAP participation and income; and (5) diet behavior and health. FoodAPS estimates of total, food-at-home (FAH) spending are greater than estimates from the Consumer Expenditure Survey (CE) but less than those from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Compared to other national-level surveys, FoodAPS estimates a greater share of households with low or very low food security.