Modeled impacts of fruit and vegetable donations at food pantries on cardiometabolic risks among clients

Fruit and vegetable (FV) intake is often inadequate in food-insecure individuals, potentially increasing the risks of cardiometabolic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. Donating rescued FVs to food pantries (FPs) can be a promising approach to address diet-related health disparities while reducing waste in the food system. Using data from FPs in New York’s Capital Region (2017–2018, n = 68) and a household survey (2021, n = 504), we modeled the health impacts of increased FV donations while accounting for food waste at the FP- and household-level. Our analysis integrated individual-level odds ratios from prior research into a Microsoft Excel-based calculator to estimate FP-level outcomes. Results revealed that FP users currently receive around 6 pounds of produce monthly, and that doubling FV donations could reduce hypertension risk by 6% and diabetes risk by 3%, with a marginal BMI increase among FP clients. This study suggests that increasing the FV availability at FPs, coupled with waste reduction practices, is a practical way to lower cardiometabolic disease burdens in food-insecure populations.