Dollar stores have become a growing source of food for many Americans, especially in rural areas and lower-income communities. These budget-friendly outlets are often criticized for selling mostly packaged snacks and sugary drinks instead of fresh, nutrient-rich options.
A new study from Tufts University, published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, offers a more nuanced picture. Researchers analyzed food purchases from 180,000 U.S. households between 2008 and 2020, combining that data with USDA tools to estimate dietary quality.
They found that calories from dollar store purchases nearly doubled over the study period, rising from 3.4% to 6.5% of total household calories. The increase was most pronounced in households with lower incomes and in communities of color.
However, even among frequent dollar store shoppers, more than 90% of calories still came from other outlets, mainly grocery stores and club stores. That means that while dollar store purchases were generally less healthy than food bought elsewhere, they were just one piece of a household’s overall diet.
“The literature suggests that people go to different types of stores for different reasons and the dollar store is one that people choose because of the price advantage,” said lead author Dr. Wenhui Feng of Tufts University. “There are a lot of concerns that foods on dollar store shelves are less healthy, but what’s on the shelf does not equal what each household takes home.”
Dollar stores are now the fastest growing food retailer in the U.S., with more than 37,000 locations nationwide. Most sell shelf-stable, processed foods, and only a small share carry fresh produce or meat. In some rural areas, they may be the closest retail option for miles.
Sean Cash, senior author of the study, noted that some shoppers appear to use dollar stores strategically, buying snacks and sweets there but compensating with healthier purchases elsewhere.
“We need more data on the real effects of dollar stores on healthy eating as some communities may be putting the policy cart before the horse,” he said.
The authors emphasize that more research is needed to understand how dollar store expansion is affecting diet quality, especially as some local governments move to restrict their growth.
This research was supported in part by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service and a Tufts University Springboard award.