The effect of income and food programs on dietary quality: A seemingly unrelated regression analysis with error components

This article employs new Food Guide Pyramid servings data to measure how food intake is affected by income and two food programs. The analysis uses a maximum likelihood estimator that combines the seemingly unrelated regression and one-way error component models, to account for two types of intrahousehold correlations. Participation in the Food Stamp Program is associated with higher intake of meats, added sugars, and total fats. Participation in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children is associated with lower intake of added sugars.