An observational study in Food Habits and Food Selection, sponsored by University at Buffalo. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-10-27.
Sponsored by University at Buffalo · Observational
The goal of this observational study is to develop an adaptable mobile produce market model to be used on college campuses to increase college students' access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Food insecurity on college campuses threatens academic success and student well-being, and affects first generation, lower-income, and racial/ethnic minority students at higher rates. This research will include a pilot campus mobile market operated on the University at Buffalo campus. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1.) What makes it hard for students to eat healthy foods on the University at Buffalo campus, 2.) How does a mobile market need to operate on a college campus to best reach students, and 3.) What is the relationship between mobile market use and changes in how many fruits and vegetables students eat, students' ability to consistently eat foods that promote health and well-being, and participation in the Special Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
As first-generation, low-income, and racial/ethnic minority students have improved their access to higher education, food insecurity in United States campuses has increased and threatens their academic success and well-being. College food pantries have been the most common solution but only offer short-term emergency relief, and stigma has prevented their use. To provide a longer-term evidence-based approach that honors students' choices and dignity, this research will inform the development of an adaptable campus mobile market model that consistently provides access to healthy food and promotes nutrition security. The clinical trial portion of the research will evaluate how intervention dosage, gauged by University at Buffalo Campus Veggie Van (UB Veggie Van) visits, total fruit and vegetable purchasing, and incentive redemption, is associated with changes in fruit and vegetable consumption (including skin carotenoids), nutrition security measures, and Special Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) enrollment from the beginning to the end of the semester.
40 studies on the registry are indexed under Food Preferences; 13 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 125 is above the median of 90 across 11 observational studies indexed under Food Preferences.
Browse Food Preferences studies →University at Buffalo is the lead sponsor of 76 studies on the registry; none are open to participants now.
Of its 7 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 6 (86%) have results posted.
Compared within Food Preferences, this study's primary condition as ClinicalTrials.gg classifies it; the registry's first condition term is Feeding Behavior. The counts are of registry records indexed under each term, refreshed daily. How we classify →
Food-insecure undergraduate students at the University at Buffalo in Buffalo, NY who are attending classes for the 2024-2025 school year.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Undergraduate students who reported high to moderate food insecurity, are at least 18 years of age, speak English, and plan to return to the University at Buffalo campus in Spring 2025 will receive weekly fruit and vegetable incentives encouraging them to shop at the UB Veggie Van (intervention). They will complete incentivized data collection after 13 weeks of the intervention (incentives/access to UB Veggie Van).
Behavioral: UB Campus Veggie Van
The UB Veggie Van is based on the Veggie Van, an evidence-based mobile produce market intervention. Mobile markets are like farmers' markets on wheels that travel to underserved communities selling high-quality, low-cost produce and healthy foods. The Veggie Van mobile market model was developed through multiple research studies on the efficacy, effectiveness, and implementation of the intervention, and is a multi-level intervention that addresses the five components of nutrition security (availability, accessibility, affordability, stability, and utilization). The UB Veggie Van is operated according to the Veggie Van model, with specific adaptations made to more effectively reach the campus community (Aim 1 of the larger funded study).
Also known as: UB Veggie Van
Change in Fruit and Vegetable Consumption
Fruit and vegetable consumption using items from the National Cancer Institute Dietary Screener Questionnaire and expressed as times per day. The Difference Row represents the change in the number of times fruits and vegetables were consumed per day at baseline and 13 weeks.
Time frame: Collected at baseline and after the 13-week intervention period
Change in Nutrition Security Status
To capture broader aspects of nutritional well-being, we administered the 4-item Household Nutrition Security scale (developed by the Center for Nutrition and Health Impact). This scale asks how often (on a 5-point scale where "Always" equals 0 and "Never" equals 5) respondents experienced situations like: having to eat unhealthy foods due to limited options, being unable to obtain foods they felt they should eat, worrying that available food might harm their health, or eating the same thing for days due to lack of resources. We averaged the items to create a nutrition security score (0-4) for each participant, with higher scores reflecting greater nutrition security (i.e. rarely encountering those limitations). This measure is intended to complement food security by focusing on the quality and desirability of foods accessible to the individual. The Difference Row represents the change in nutrition security status scores recorded at baseline and 13 weeks.
Time frame: Collected at baseline and after the 13-week intervention period
Change in Skin Carotenoids Score
We will use the "Veggie Meter", a noninvasive finger scan technology that relies on pressure-mediated reflection spectroscopy. Skin carotenoid measurements correlate positively and significantly with blood carotenoids and reported dietary fruit and vegetable intake. Skin carotenoid scores are measured using a 0-800 score, with 0 meaning no detected skin carotenoids and therefore low fruit and vegetable intake. Higher scores indicate greater skin carotenoid presence and therefore higher fruit and vegetable consumption. The Difference Row represents the change in skin carotenoid scores between baseline and 13 weeks.
Time frame: Collected at baseline and after the 13-week intervention period
Change in Food Security Score
Food security was measured using the 10-item USDA Adult Food Security Survey Module (score range 0-10). This instrument yields a score from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater food insecurity (more frequent or severe food access problems). As per standard thresholds, we classified scores ≥3 as food insecure (which was part of our eligibility criteria). In analysis, we treated food security as a continuous outcome (change in raw score). The Difference Row represents the change in food security score between baseline and 13 weeks.
Time frame: Collected at baseline and after the 13-week intervention period
Change in Dietary Choice Score
A 3-item scale assessing the ability to meet dietary preferences and avoid undesired foods. Items included, for example, "I had to eat foods I did not want to because I couldn't get other types of food," with responses from 0 ("always") to 4 ("never"). We reverse-scored as needed and averaged the items so that higher scores (0-4) signify greater dietary autonomy - being able to eat preferred foods and not forced into less-desired choices. The Difference Row represents the change in dietary choice score between baseline and 13 weeks.
Time frame: Collected at baseline and after the 13-week intervention period
Change in Healthfulness Choice Score
a 3-item scale assessing perceived control over obtaining healthy foods. Students rated statements such as "I could control if I was able to eat quality fruits and vegetables" on a 0 ("never") to 4 ("always") scale. We computed an average score (0-4) where a higher value indicates a greater ability to access foods that meet one's health needs. The Difference Row represents the change in Healthfulness Choice score between baseline and 13 weeks.
Time frame: From baseline to 13-week follow-up
Percentage of Participants Enrolled in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
A single survey question asking: "Did you participate in the following programs during the \[semester before or during the intervention\]?: Food stamps (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP benefits), Special Supplemental Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits, Government cash assistance including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Social Security Insurance (SSI), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), or government assistance (but not including social security benefits). The Difference Row represents the change in percentage of participants enrolled in SNAP benefits between baseline and 13 weeks.
Time frame: Collected at baseline and after the 13-week intervention period
Intervention Dosage
Number of visits to the UB Veggie Van over the intervention period, total fruit and vegetable spending, and amount of purchasing incentives redeemed--these metrics will be tracked using the Veggie Van POS (Farmers Register).
Time frame: Collected throughout the 13-week intervention period
Process Measures
Survey questions on the receipt and usage of the intervention and intervention materials, including newsletters, cooking demonstrations, recipes, educational materials, etc.
Time frame: Collected after the 13-week intervention period
UB Campus Veggie Van Perceptions
Measure student perceptions of the intervention using the Acceptability of Intervention Measure and the Intervention Appropriateness Measure.
Time frame: Collected after the 13-week intervention period
Participants were recruited in August-September 2024 through a campus-wide online food access and nutrition security survey distributed to University at Buffalo students. Students aged ≥18 years who screened positive for food insecurity (USDA Adult Food Security Survey score ≥3) and consented to follow-up were invited to enroll in the study. Recruitment was completed prior to the start of the intervention. Participants who did not complete the baseline survey (5) were excluded from analysis.
| Milestone | Food Insecure Students |
|---|---|
| Started | 125 |
| Completed baseline | 125 |
| Completed | 105 |
| Not completed | 20 |
| Withdrew: Lost to follow-up | 20 |
Fruit and vegetable consumption using items from the National Cancer Institute Dietary Screener Questionnaire and expressed as times per day. The Difference Row represents the change in the number of times fruits and vegetables were consumed per day at baseline and 13 weeks.
| times per day | Food Insecure Students |
|---|---|
| Baseline | 2.63 ± 2.26 |
| Follow-up | 2.76 ± 2.31 |
| Difference | 0.08 ± 2.53 |
To capture broader aspects of nutritional well-being, we administered the 4-item Household Nutrition Security scale (developed by the Center for Nutrition and Health Impact). This scale asks how often (on a 5-point scale where "Always" equals 0 and "Never" equals 5) respondents experienced situations like: having to eat unhealthy foods due to limited options, being unable to obtain foods they felt they should eat, worrying that available food might harm their health, or eating the same thing for days due to lack of resources. We averaged the items to create a nutrition security score (0-4) for each participant, with higher scores reflecting greater nutrition security (i.e. rarely encountering those limitations). This measure is intended to complement food security by focusing on the quality and desirability of foods accessible to the individual. The Difference Row represents the change in nutrition security status scores recorded at baseline and 13 weeks.
| score on a scale | Food Insecure Students |
|---|---|
| Baseline | 1.72 ± 0.86 |
| Follow-up | 2.13 ± 0.87 |
| Difference | 0.44 ± 0.90 |
We will use the "Veggie Meter", a noninvasive finger scan technology that relies on pressure-mediated reflection spectroscopy. Skin carotenoid measurements correlate positively and significantly with blood carotenoids and reported dietary fruit and vegetable intake. Skin carotenoid scores are measured using a 0-800 score, with 0 meaning no detected skin carotenoids and therefore low fruit and vegetable intake. Higher scores indicate greater skin carotenoid presence and therefore higher fruit and vegetable consumption. The Difference Row represents the change in skin carotenoid scores between baseline and 13 weeks.
| score on a scale | Food Insecure Students |
|---|---|
| Baseline | 290.92 ± 83.59 |
| Follow-up | 314.05 ± 77.54 |
| Difference | 20.37 ± 54.25 |
Food security was measured using the 10-item USDA Adult Food Security Survey Module (score range 0-10). This instrument yields a score from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater food insecurity (more frequent or severe food access problems). As per standard thresholds, we classified scores ≥3 as food insecure (which was part of our eligibility criteria). In analysis, we treated food security as a continuous outcome (change in raw score). The Difference Row represents the change in food security score between baseline and 13 weeks.
| score on a scale | Food Insecure Students |
|---|---|
| Baseline | 6.72 ± 2.45 |
| Follow-up | 4.32 ± 3.19 |
| Difference | -2.18 ± 3.13 |
A single survey question asking: "Did you participate in the following programs during the \[semester before or during the intervention\]?: Food stamps (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP benefits), Special Supplemental Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits, Government cash assistance including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Social Security Insurance (SSI), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), or government assistance (but not including social security benefits). The Difference Row represents the change in percentage of participants enrolled in SNAP benefits between baseline and 13 weeks.
| percentage of participants | Food Insecure Students |
|---|---|
| Baseline | 6 |
| Follow-up | 11 |
| Difference | 5 |
Number of visits to the UB Veggie Van over the intervention period, total fruit and vegetable spending, and amount of purchasing incentives redeemed--these metrics will be tracked using the Veggie Van POS (Farmers Register).
Results for this outcome have not been posted.
Survey questions on the receipt and usage of the intervention and intervention materials, including newsletters, cooking demonstrations, recipes, educational materials, etc.
Results for this outcome have not been posted.
Measure student perceptions of the intervention using the Acceptability of Intervention Measure and the Intervention Appropriateness Measure.
Results for this outcome have not been posted.
A 3-item scale assessing the ability to meet dietary preferences and avoid undesired foods. Items included, for example, "I had to eat foods I did not want to because I couldn't get other types of food," with responses from 0 ("always") to 4 ("never"). We reverse-scored as needed and averaged the items so that higher scores (0-4) signify greater dietary autonomy - being able to eat preferred foods and not forced into less-desired choices. The Difference Row represents the change in dietary choice score between baseline and 13 weeks.
| score on scale | Food Insecure Students |
|---|---|
| Baseline | 1.87 ± 0.66 |
| Follow-up | 2.23 ± 0.81 |
| Difference | 0.32 ± 0.98 |
a 3-item scale assessing perceived control over obtaining healthy foods. Students rated statements such as "I could control if I was able to eat quality fruits and vegetables" on a 0 ("never") to 4 ("always") scale. We computed an average score (0-4) where a higher value indicates a greater ability to access foods that meet one's health needs. The Difference Row represents the change in Healthfulness Choice score between baseline and 13 weeks.
| score on scale | Food Insecure Students |
|---|---|
| Baseline | 2.04 ± 0.94 |
| Follow-up | 2.42 ± 0.87 |
| Difference | .45 ± 1.00 |
Collected over Individual adverse event data was collected for the duration of the intervention period, which was 13 weeks starting at baseline in-person data collection at the beginning of the 13-week semester.. Non-serious events are listed at a 0% frequency threshold.
| Group | Deaths | Serious | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food Insecure Students | 0/125 (0%) | 0/125 (0%) | 0/125 (0%) |
All enrolled participants who completed baseline were assessed.
| Age, Continuous(years) | Food Insecure Students |
|---|---|
| Mean | 24.7 ± 6.3 |
| Sex/Gender, Customized(Participants) | Food Insecure Students |
|---|---|
| Female | 81 |
| Male | 43 |
| Unreported | 1 |
| Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)(Participants) | Food Insecure Students |
|---|---|
| Hispanic or Latino | 8 |
| Not Hispanic or Latino | 106 |
| Unknown or Not Reported | 11 |
| Race (NIH/OMB)(Participants) | Food Insecure Students |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 0 |
| Asian | 19 |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 0 |
| Black or African American | 9 |
| White | 29 |
| More than one race | 7 |
| Unknown or Not Reported | 61 |
| Region of Enrollment(participants) | Food Insecure Students |
|---|---|
| United States | 125 |
| Baseline Food Security Score(units on a scale) | Food Insecure Students |
|---|---|
| Mean | 6.72 ± 2.45 |
PDFs hosted by the registry, ClinicalTrials.gov.
Plan to share: Undecided
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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