Effects of Participation in a Community‐Based Food Cooperative on Food Security and Dietary Behaviours: A Pre‐Post Study
Holly Hliounakis, Katherine Kent, Cristy Brooks, Jordan Scavera, Catharine Fleming, Nicky Morrison, Lei Si, David Simmons, Jason H. Y. Wu, Lucy Chapman, Freya MacMillanABSTRACT
Introduction
Community‐based food cooperatives have shown potential in addressing food insecurity, but longitudinal evidence assessing their impact is limited. This study evaluated the effects of participating in a community‐based food cooperative on food insecurity, dietary behaviours, and physical health outcomes among Australian adults.
Methods
A pre‐post survey of new cooperative members measured demographics, household food insecurity status (United States Department of Agriculture 6‐item Household Food Security Survey Module (HFSSM)), dietary behaviours (servings/day of core food groups), and objective physical health indicators (weight, waist circumference, and blood pressure). Participants were classified as secure (HFSSM score = 0) or insecure (HFSSM score ≥ 1). A McNemar's test assessed the change in proportion of participants classified as food insecure from baseline to follow‐up, and paired t ‐tests or non‐parametric equivalents compared other outcomes.
Results
At baseline, 58 participants completed surveys, and 25 completed physical data collection. Participants were primarily female (93.1%), 18–33 or 35–44 years old (37.9% each), and of European background (81.0%). The proportion of participants reporting food security improved from baseline (54.2%) to follow‐up (66.7%) ( p = 0.041). Importantly, participants who were food secure remained so at follow‐up. Those who were food insecure also reported more favourable improvements in dietary behaviours and meal preparation habits, though many of these did not reach statistical significance.
Conclusion
Participation in a community‐based food cooperative was associated with improved food security among Australian adults.
So What?
These findings highlight the potential of community‐based food cooperatives to reduce food insecurity and support their integration into broader health promotion and food security strategies.