Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** the covid-19 pandemic rapidly…

Awards issued prior to january 20, 2025, were funded under previous administrations and may not reflect the priorities and policies of the current administration.** the covid-19 pandemic rapidly increased the use of online grocery platforms. USDA responded by expanding snap participation on these platforms. The expansion warrants further inquiry, especially for snap participants, as these platforms shape consumer behavior and alter the pricing and marketing of food products. This project will investigate how online grocery shopping affects U.S. Consumers, emphasizing snap participants. Specifically, we will 1) qualitatively assess the experience of snap participants in online grocery stores; 2) use tufts' online grocery store to test the effects of altering nutrition information on snap-eligible consumers; and 3) evaluate snap-eligible consumer decision-making about the use of online grocery platforms. In each area, we will assess the ethical implications of the platforms. We will establish an advisory committee to support our investigation and disseminate our findings. Finally, this project will examine the societal implications of the use of online grocery platforms to assess their merits and risks, in addition to any resulting unforeseen and unintended consequences. This project addresses strategic goal 7 (provide all americans access to a safe, nutritious, and secure food supply). Program priority areas: 3) food safety, nutrition, and health; 5) agriculture systems and technology; and 6) agriculture economic and rural communities.