The effect of improving the content of food parcels on dietary intake in Dutch food bank recipients

ISRCTN ISRCTN40554133
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN40554133
Secondary identifying numbers 2010-18
Submission date
11/01/2019
Registration date
21/01/2019
Last edited
10/02/2020
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Other
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Food bank users are often food insufficient and have poorer diet quality compared to non-users. Food parcels, supplied to food bank users, provide an opportunity to improve their diets. However, the content of these food parcels is not in line with dietary recommendations. This suggests that the nutritional guidelines for a healthy diet cannot be met if food supplied by food banks is the sole food source, which consequently may lead to higher risks on nutrition related chronic diseases. Therefore, we aimed to assess whether improving the nutritional quality of the food parcels, by adding healthy foods and removing unhealthy foods, will positively impact diet quality of food bank recipients.

Who can participate?
All food bank recipients of three selected food banks in the Netherlands (i.e. Alkmaar, Apeldoorn and Enschede) could participate if they were at least 18 years old, recipients for at least one month, possible to contact by phone, collect their own food parcel, and if they had an adequate command of the Dutch language to participate in oral and written interviews.

What does the study involve?
We performed a randomized controlled trial with cross-over design with two consecutive periods, lasting 4 weeks each. Per food bank, participants were randomly assigned to one of the six possible diet sequences. The study consisted of the following intervention conditions:

1. The control condition: the standard food parcel, with an additional non-food item.
2. Experimental condition 1: the standard food parcel in which snacks were replaced by staple foods, with an additional non-food item.
3. Experimental condition 2: the standard food parcel with additionally the recommended daily amount of fruit and vegetables for all household members for 7 days (4 days fresh, and 3 days non-perishable vegetables).
4. Experimental condition 3: the standard food parcel in which snacks were replaced by staple foods with additionally the recommended daily amount of fruit and vegetables for all household members for 7 days (4 days fresh, and 3 days non-perishable vegetables).

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
A possible benefit of the study is a healthier dietary intake. There are no side effects.

Where is the study run from?
The study was run from the Vrije University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Participating food banks were Alkmaar, Apeldoorn and Enschede, where measurements took place.

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
The study started 18 October 2012 and ended 10 January 2013. Per food bank, the study lasted 8 weeks.

Who is funding the study?
The study, which is part of the Food Bank Study, was funded by a grant from the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (115100003)

Who is the main contact?
Judith Neter, email; judith.neter@vu.nl

Study website

Contact information

Miss Judith Neter
Scientific

De Boelelaan 1085
Amsterdam
1081 HV
Netherlands

Study information

Study designRandomized controlled trial, cross-over
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised cross over trial
Study setting(s)Community
Study typeOther
Participant information sheet Not available in web format. Please use contact details to request a participant information sheet
Scientific titleThe effect of improving the content of food parcels on dietary intake in Dutch food bank recipients - a randomized controlled trial
Study objectivesImproving the content of food parcels will lead to healthier dietary intake of Dutch food bank recipients
Ethics approval(s)Does not require ethics approval: the Medical Ethical Committee of the VU Medical Center in Amsterdam, 29/09/2010, ref. 2010/278.
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedDietary intake
InterventionWe performed a randomized crossover controlled trial with two consecutive periods, lasting 4 weeks each. Per food bank, the trial lasted 8 weeks in total. Per food bank, participants were randomly assigned by hand to one of the ten following possible sequences:
1. control condition - experimental condition 1
2. control condition - experimental condition 2
3. control condition - experimental condition 3
4. experimental condition 1 - control condition
5. experimental condition 1 - experimental condition 3
6. experimental condition 2 - control condition
7. experimental condition 2 - experimental condition 3
8. experimental condition 3 - control condition
9. experimental condition 3 - experimental condition 1
10. experimental condition 3 - experimental condition 2

The trial consisted of the following intervention conditions:
1. The control condition: the standard food parcel supplied by the food bank with an additional non-food item.
2. Experimental condition 1: the standard food parcel supplied by the food bank in which snacks (e.g. potato chips, cookies, chocolate) were replaced by staple foods (e.g. pasta, rice), with an additional non-food item.
3. Experimental condition 2: the standard food parcel supplied by the food bank with additionally the recommended daily amount of fruit (2 pieces) and vegetables (200 grams) for all household members for 7 days (4 days fresh, and 3 days non-perishable vegetables).
4. Experimental condition 3: the standard food parcel supplied by the food bank in which snacks (e.g. potato chips, cookies, chocolate) were replaced by staple foods (e.g. pasta, rice) with additionally the recommended daily amount of fruit (2 pieces) and vegetables (200 grams) for all household members for 7 days (4 days fresh, and 3 days non-perishable vegetables).
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measureDifferences in dietary intake of the following food groups and nutrients (based on the Dutch Food Composition Table) between the intervention conditions were measured with multiple 24 hour recalls per participant at the end of each intervention condition (after 4 and after 8 weeks):
Nutrients:
1.Energy (kcal)
2. Protein (en%)
3. Mono- and disaccharides (en%)
4. Polysaccharides (en%)
5. Total fat (en%)
6. Saturated fat (en%)
7. Dietary fiber (g)
8. Vitamin C (mg)
9. Sodium (g)
10. Potassium (mg)
Food groups:
1. Vegetables (g)
2. Soya and vegetarian products (g)
3. Sugar, candy, sweet filling and sweet sauces (g)
4. Pastry and cookies (g)
5. Nuts, seeds and snacks (g)
6. Grains, flour, rice (g)
7. Fruit (g)

We did not calculate an overall score as a measure of diet quality. Therefore, the above mentioned outcomes are the primary outcomes.
Secondary outcome measuresN/A
Overall study start date20/10/2009
Completion date10/01/2013

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Other
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants132
Total final enrolment205
Key inclusion criteria1. >18 years of age
2. Adequate command of the Dutch language (oral and written)
3. Recipient of a Dutch food bank >1 month
4. Collect own food parcel at the food bank
5. Possible to be contacted by phone.
Key exclusion criteriaN/A
Date of first enrolment05/10/2012
Date of final enrolment18/10/2012

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Netherlands

Study participating centres

Voedselbank Enschede
Hoge Bothofstraat 45
Enschede
7511 ZA
Netherlands
Voedselbank Apeldoorn
Kanaal Noord 147
Apeldoorn
7317 AB
Netherlands
Voedselbank Alkmaar
Pettemerstraat 39B
Alkmaar
1823 CW
Netherlands

Sponsor information

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
University/education

De Boelelaan 1085
Amsterdam
1081 HV
Netherlands

Website www.vu.nl
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/008xxew50

Funders

Funder type

Research council

The Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date01/04/2019
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryData sharing statement to be made available at a later date
Publication and dissemination planWe intend to publish a paper of the trial in April 2019.
IPD sharing planThe data sharing plans for the current study are unknown and will be made available at a later date.

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article results 01/12/2020 10/02/2020 Yes No

Editorial Notes

10/02/2020: The following changes have been made:
1. Publication reference added.
2. The total final enrolment number has been added from the reference.