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Diet, HealthyFoodImage2NCT05061888

Free Living Food Waste Management and Diet Quality Improvement Using Smart Intervention and Food Image Application

A study testing Smart Intervention for Food Waste Management and Replacing current diet with Fruits and Vegetables and Smart Intervention for Stress Management in people with Diet, Healthy, run by Pennington Biomedical Research Center at 1 site in United States.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The primary aim of this study is to reduce household food waste and improve individual nutrition. This will be achieved using the FoodImageTM smartphone app 1, a novel method for measuring household food acquisition, food intake, and food waste decisions, to assess the efficacy of a smart intervention that targets… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 62 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
Diet, Healthy
What is being tested?
Smart Intervention for Food Waste Management and Replacing current diet with Fruits and Vegetables and Smart Intervention for Stress Management
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
46 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
23 Aug 2021to 30 Dec 2025
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 62 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Male or female, age 18-62 years
  • Body mass index (BMI) 18.5 - 50 kg/m2, based on self-reported height and weight
  • Ownership of an iPhone, which the participant is willing to use for the study
  • Access to Apple ID, password, and email address and willing to use them in the course of the study
  • Performs a majority of household food shopping and preparation
  • If children are present in household, all children are between 6-18 years
  • Able to meet the schedule demands for the study

Who cannot join

  • Not able to use an iPhone
  • Refusal or unable to use the smartphone app to collect data in free-living conditions
  • Households that purchase groceries less than 1 time per week
  • More than 2 children living in the household
  • Pennington Biomedical Research Center employee
  • Unwilling to sign consent to use web screener questions for data set and analysis.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site
  • Pennington Biomedical Research Center

    Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70806

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Using the FoodImageTM App to Assess Smart Interventions Designed to Improve Nutrition & Reduce Food Waste

The primary aim of this study is to reduce household food waste and improve individual nutrition. This will be achieved using the FoodImageTM smartphone app 1, a novel method for measuring household food acquisition, food intake, and food waste decisions, to assess the efficacy of a smart intervention that targets food waste reduction and diet quality improvement. The intervention is designed to improve nutrition by offsetting intake of less nutritious foods with increased fresh fruit and vegetable (FV) intake while simultaneously reducing household food waste via strategies tailored to participating households.

Read the detailed description

Data collected will be used to:

  1. Test the effects of free FV provision on: (a) household food waste levels, (b) total FV acquisition (free FV provision plus purchases post-intervention vs. pre-intervention FV purchases), and (c) the consumption of FV (Food Patterns Equivalents Database, FPED). We hypothesize that free FV provision will increase food waste, total FV acquisition, and diet quality (increase the Healthy Eating Index [HEI]). We will test these hypotheses by comparing baseline and follow-up data from participants randomly assigned to the control condition, which features free FV provision and a placebo (stress management) intervention not focused on food waste. Exploratory analyses will examine the effects on dietary energy intake and if the freely provided FV replace non-FV foods in the baseline diet.
  2. Test if a smart intervention to reduce food waste and replace less healthy foods with FV significantly reduces post-intervention food waste compared to the control group while increasing FV acquisition and consumption compared to pre-intervention baseline. We hypothesize that this smart intervention will increase total FV acquisition and FV consumption compared to baseline, and these increases are not expected to differ significantly from control. It is further hypothesized that those receiving the smart intervention will significantly reduce food waste compared to controls. Exploratory analyses will examine the extent to which the smart intervention had the intended effect of replacing less healthy foods with FV consumption.
Conditions
Diet, Healthy
Being tested
Smart Intervention for Food Waste Management and Replacing current diet with Fruits and Vegetables, Smart Intervention for Stress Management
Keywords
Food Waste, Diet Quality, Stress Management, Food Intake

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Smart Intervention for Food Waste Management and Replacing current diet with Fruits and VegetablesOther

    Also called Treatment Group

    Will receive a Smart Intervention on Food Waste Management and replacing less healthy foods with fruits and vegetables.

  • Smart Intervention for Stress ManagementOther

    Also called Control Group

    Will receive a Smart Intervention on stress management practices and strategies.

Study groups in NCT05061888
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Food Waste Intervention GroupActive comparatorThis group will receive an intervention on food waste management and fruit and vegetable replacement to increase diet quality while avoiding an increase in calories. Both groups will obtain free fruit and vegetable boxes and will use the FoodImage app to record food acquisition (Shop), food prep (Prep), intake (Eat) and waste (Toss) for approximately 3 (24 hour) days; ideally including 1 weekend date.
Receives: Other: Smart Intervention for Food Waste Management and Replacing current diet with Fruits and Vegetables
Stress Management Control GroupPlacebo comparatorThis group will receive an intervention on Stress Management and will be intensity matched to the treatment group. Both groups will obtain free fruit and vegetable boxes and will use FoodImage to record food acquisition (Shop), food prep (Prep), intake (Eat) and waste (Toss) for approximately 3 (24 hour) days; ideally including 1 weekend date.
Receives: Other: Smart Intervention for Stress Management

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. The Impact of Free FV Provision on Household FV Intake.

    We will test if levels of household FV intake change significantly over 4 weeks among participants randomized to the control condition, which includes free FV provision and a placebo (stress management) intervention not focused on food waste. FV intake will be measured with the FoodImage app. FV intake will be quantified as the total number of servings of FV eaten per day, with FV servings defined by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Patterns Equivalents Database (FPED).

    Measured: 4 weeks

  2. The Impact of Free FV Provision on Levels of Household Food Waste, Measured in Grams.

    We will test if levels of household food waste change significantly over 4 weeks among participants randomized to the control condition, which includes free FV provision and a placebo (stress management) intervention not focused on food waste. Food waste will be measured with the FoodImage app. Food waste will be quantified as total grams of food waste per day.

    Measured: 4 weeks

  3. The Impact of Free FV Provision on Levels of Household Food Waste, Measured in Calories.

    We will test if levels of household food waste change significantly over 4 weeks among participants randomized to the control condition, which includes free FV provision and a placebo (stress management) intervention not focused on food waste. Food waste will be measured with the FoodImage app. Food waste will be quantified as total calories of food waste per day.

    Measured: 4 weeks

  4. Change in Fruit and Vegetable Intake With Smart Intervention Compared to Pre-intervention Baseline

    Fruit and vegetable intake was assessed at baseline and post-intervention using data collected via the FoodImage app for three consecutive days prior to the first free fruit and vegetable pickup and three days following the final pickup. Intake was calculated in servings/day. Change is calculated as post-intervention value minus pre-intervention value, where positive values indicate an increase in intake and negative values indicate a decrease.

    Measured: 4 weeks

  5. Change in Diet Quality (Healthy Eating Index) With Smart Intervention Compared to Pre-intervention Baseline

    Diet quality will be assessed using the Healthy Eating Index-2020 (HEI-2020), a validated tool that measures adherence to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better diet quality. The total HEI score is calculated based on intake data collected via the FoodImage app over a 3-day period before and after the 4-week Smart intervention. The intervention includes the free provision of fruits and vegetables (FV) and aims to reduce food waste and replace less healthy foods with FV.

    Measured: 4 weeks

  6. Determine if a Smart Intervention to Reduce Food Waste and Replace Less Healthy Foods With FV Significantly Increases FV Plate Waste Compared to Pre-intervention Baseline.

    We will test if levels of FV plate waste change significantly over 4 weeks among participants randomized to the control condition, which includes free FV provision and a placebo (stress management) intervention not focused on food waste. FV plate waste will be measured with the FoodImage app. FV plate waste will be quantified as total grams of food waste per day.

    Measured: 4 weeks

  7. Determine if a Smart Intervention to Reduce Food Waste and Replace Less Healthy Foods With FV Significantly Reduces Household Level Food Waste, Measured in Grams, Compared to a Control Intervention.

    We will test if a smart intervention to reduce food waste and replace less healthy foods with FV significantly reduces food waste over 4 weeks compared to a control (stress management) intervention. Both interventions include FV provision. Food waste will be measured with the FoodImage app. Food waste will be quantified as total grams of food waste per day.

    Measured: 4 weeks

  8. Determine if a Smart Intervention to Reduce Food Waste and Replace Less Healthy Foods With FV Significantly Reduces Household Level Food Waste, Measured in Calories, Compared to a Control Intervention.

    We will test if a smart intervention to reduce food waste and replace less healthy foods with FV significantly reduces food waste over 4 weeks compared to a control (stress management) intervention. Both interventions include FV provision. Food waste will be measured with the FoodImage app. Food waste will be quantified as total calories of food waste.

    Measured: 4 weeks

  9. The Impact of Free FV Provision on Household FV Acquisition.

    We will test if levels of household FV acquisition change significantly over 4 weeks among participants randomized to the control condition, which includes free FV provision and a placebo (stress management) intervention not focused on food waste. FV acquisition will be measured with the Foodlmage app. FV acquisition will be quantified as the total number of servings of FV acquired by the household, with FV servings defined by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Patterns Equivalents Database (FPED).

    Measured: 4 weeks

  10. Determine if a Smart Intervention to Reduce Food Waste and Replace Less Healthy Foods With FV Significantly Increases FV Acquisition Compared to Pre-intervention Baseline.

    We will test if a smart intervention to reduce food waste and replace less healthy foods with FV significantly increases FV acquisition over 4 weeks. The intervention includes free provision of FV. FV acquisition will be measured with the Foodlmage app. FV acquisition will be quantified as the total number of servings of FV acquired by the household, with FV servings defined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Patterns Equivalents Database (FPED).

    Measured: 4 weeks

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted30 Sep 2021
  2. Study start23 Aug 2021
  3. Primary completion23 Nov 2022
  4. Study completion30 Dec 2025

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Double blind
Who is masked
Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
46 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05061888
Sponsor's protocol ID
PBRC 2021-015
Acronym
FoodImage2
Status last verified
Apr 2026
First submitted
9 Sep 2021
Last updated
12 May 2026
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Publications

  • Roe BE, Diktas HE, Qi D, Martin CK, Apolzan JW. Households Provided Free Produce Require Intensive Intervention to Increase Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Reduce Plate Waste: A Randomized Trial. J Nutr. 2026 Apr;156(4):101403. doi: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101403. Epub 2026 Feb 11.

    PubMed 41687785

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Smart Intervention for Food Waste Management and Replacing current diet with Fruits and Vegetables and Smart Intervention for Stress Management in people with Diet, Healthy, run by Pennington Biomedical Research Center at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 12 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 13 Aug 2025). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

The Impact of Free FV Provision on Household FV Intake. (time frame: 4 weeks). The study lists 10 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05061888, which also lists 1 linked publication.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 12 May 2026.

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