← Back to research

Seafood Purchasing in Responses to Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis

Under review at AJAE
Presented at the Agricultural & Applied Ecoonmics Association (AAEA) 2024 conference in New Orleans
Seafood
WIC program
Healthy diets
Disease diagnosis
Food policy
Scanner data

“Seafood Purchasing in Responses to Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis”

Authors
Affiliations

Roberto Cárdenas-Retamal

School of Forest, Fisheries, & Geomatics Sciences, University of Florida

Di Fang

Food and Resources Economics Department, University of Florida

Frank Asche

School of Forest, Fisheries, & Geomatics Sciences, University of Florida

Published

October 2025

Abstract

Disease diagnosis can be a critical turning point in individuals’ lives and incentivize them to make lifestyle changes. However, the extent to which these events lead to significant changes in short- and long-term food choices and the extent to which this depends on demographics remain less studied. Seafood is a food group that is particularly interesting in this context. Despite well-documented health benefits, seafood consumption remains below recommended levels and vary significantly between demographic groups. Using a specific food group also allows the use of quantities in addition to expenditure or an index which may be important due to the closer relationship with nutrients, as well as exploring adjustments of the composition of products. Using the NielsenIQ datasets, this study examines how a type 2 diabetes diagnosis affected seafood purchasing behaviors in the United States, using a two-stage difference in difference approach. Our findings show a significant increase in seafood purchases post-diagnosis by 2%; the persistence of the impact vary about 8 years, before the effect eventually declines. There is heterogeneity in the results, showing that demographic differences in households play an important role in seafood purchases responses to a diagnosis, as well seafood species. Of particular interest is the fact that canned seafood was included in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children in the U.S. in 2024, increasing access to low income households that traditionally are among the groups that consumes least seafood. Our results indicate strong positive responses for canned seafood for low income households.