Black Americans surveyed by Word In Black are intensely aware of the connection between food and health but face economic and structural barriers that limit what they can actually put on the table, according to a new report from the organization’s Insights & Research Division.
The report, At The Table: Food & Health In Our Community, published Sept. 3, found major concerns about food safety and access to healthy food at affordable prices.
Among the starkest findings: Six in 10 respondents don’t trust that the food they buy in grocery stores is safe, and rising grocery prices are pushing some toward cheaper, less nutritious options.
“What we found is a community that knows exactly what it needs to eat well and simply cannot get there on the current terms,” said Christa Mahlobo, Ph.D., Insights & Research director for Word In Black.
“The barrier isn’t awareness,” Mahlobo said. “It’s price, proximity, and a food system that too often asks Black families to choose between what they can afford and what will keep them healthy.”
Price, food safety concerns
The report draws from a survey of 1,249 Black Americans conducted between April 22 and June 8. Respondents were readers of Word In Black and 10 partner Black news organizations nationwide.
The sample was relatively affluent and highly educated: Roughly one-third had postgraduate or professional degrees, and the largest income group reported annual household incomes of $100,000 or more. The findings therefore reflect the respondents surveyed and should not be considered representative of all Black Americans.
Nearly three-quarters said prices for healthy foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables need to be lowered. Forty-two percent want more grocery stores or fresh food markets in their neighborhoods, while 38% want more nutrition education.
More than 60% reported concerns about food safety. Those concerns extend beyond the Word In Black survey. A July Quinnipiac University poll found 55% of registered voters nationwide had little or no confidence in government oversight of food safety.
The concerns also come amid high-profile outbreaks and recalls. A multistate Cyclospora outbreak associated with processed iceberg lettuce has sickened nearly 11,000 people, hospitalized more than 450 and resulted in two deaths.
Health vs. affordability
While many respondents did not report being food insecure, rising grocery prices are forcing difficult trade-offs.
Respondents described “trading down” — swapping higher-priced foods or brands for cheaper alternatives, buying store brands and looking for manager’s specials. Some use coupons and mobile apps for savings or rely on local food pantries.
Others reported buying fewer fresh fruits, vegetables or meat, bypassing organic foods or skipping healthier options altogether.
One respondent described her mindset while grocery shopping: “Put it back or find a cheaper unhealthy version.”
The problem extends to the larger population. A 2025 Pew Research Center survey found 90% of U.S. adults said healthy food had become more expensive in recent years, and 69% said the higher prices made eating healthy more difficult. Among lower-income adults, 77% said higher prices made healthy eating more difficult, including 46% who said it was “a lot” more difficult.
Price also shapes where people shop. Two in five Word In Black respondents said reasonably priced food was the most important factor in choosing a grocery store — ahead of taste, convenience and healthfulness.
Food is life — and culture
The survey also found respondents strongly tied to their food heritage.
About 32% said their knowledge of food came from how they were raised and what their family cooked at home, while 29% said their current knowledge was shaped by their own research and expanding their food horizons as adults.
Nearly half said they try to balance traditional foods with healthier choices. A quarter still eat mostly the same foods they grew up with, while about 12% have moved away from their traditional diet for health reasons.
Forty-six percent strongly agreed that food in the United States contributes to diet-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.
Despite concerns about the food system, many respondents viewed their own eating habits positively. A little more than half gave the healthfulness of their diets a B, and nine in 10 agreed that what they eat affects their mental and emotional well-being.
Asked what would help them eat healthier, 73% pointed to lower prices for fresh fruits, vegetables and whole foods. Forty-two percent wanted more grocery stores or fresh food markets in their neighborhoods, and 38% wanted more public education about food and nutrition.
The report calls on policymakers, community health organizations and food retailers to expand access to healthy foods, invest in culturally relevant nutrition programs and work with trusted community leaders on health education.