RT Journal
A1 Gordon-Larsen P, Boone-Heinonen J, Popkin BM
T1 Supermarkets: Components of causality for healthy diets—reply
JF Archives of Internal Medicine
JO Archives of Internal Medicine
YR 2012
FD January 23
VO 172
IS 2
SP 195
OP 197
DO 10.1001/archinte.172.2.196
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinte.172.2.196
AB 
Two other pieces of evidence bolster our reservations about the focus on supermarket access, without consideration of other driving factors. First, a natural experiment in the United Kingdom compared diet behavior before and after introduction of a supermarket in a food desert.1 Compared with a control community, no significant increases in fruit and vegetable consumption occurred. Second, a joint Institute of Medicine–National Academy of Sciences task force workshop (chaired by B.M.P.) on the public health impact of food deserts found limited evidence that placing supermarkets in food deserts alone would improve the diets of poor individuals.2 It is possible that providing supermarkets in isolation of other efforts may not change consumer behavior or improve health.