Healthy foods arent always pricier than less-nutritious alternatives, says a new USDA study that challenges previous findings about the price consumers pay for eating right. Using data from the USDAs Quarterly Food-at-Home Price Database, researchers compared prices per 100 grams of different food choices. Whole grains were indeed more expensive than refined grains (though that gap has narrowed in recent years), and dark green vegetables cost more than potatoes and other starchy veggies. But whole fruits were 60-70% cheaper than processed sweet snacks and also cheaper than packaged savory snacks. (See this issues Special Report on fruits.) Orange vegetables such as carrots and sweet potatoes were another bargain, comparable to or cheaper than starchy veggies. Though pricier than carbonated soft drinks, low-fat milk cost less than whole milk. The report also found wide geographic variations in the relative price of healthier choices, which may contribute to geographic variation in diet and health outcomes.
