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Objective: To examine the association between language use – predominantly English, English and Spanish equally, and predominantly Spanish – and food insecurity among Hispanic adults residing in the United States, 1999-2018. Design: Pooled cross-sectional study design. Setting: United States. Participants: 15,073 Hispanic adults. Results: Compared to Hispanic adults who predominantly spoke English and after adjusting for age, sex, family income-to-poverty ratio, education level, and employment status, Hispanic adults who spoke English and Spanish equally (OR=1.28, 95%CI=1.05-1.56) or predominantly Spanish (OR=1.25, 95%CI=1.04-1.49) had higher odds of food insecurity. After stratifying by country of birth, language use was associated with higher odds of food insecurity only for Hispanic adults born outside of the United States, but not for Hispanic adults born in the United States. Hispanic adults born outside of the United States who spoke English and Spanish equally (OR=1.27, 95%CI=1.04-1.55) or spoke predominantly Spanish (OR=1.24, 95%CI=1.04-1.48) had higher odds of food insecurity when compared to those who predominantly spoke English. Conclusion: Foreign-born Hispanic adults who speak predominantly Spanish, or English and Spanish equally, have higher odds of food insecurity. Food and nutrition assistance programs that serve Hispanic immigrants should make sure to provide linguistically- and culturally appropriate services to this population.

ObjectiveDietary guidelines are important education and policy tools to address local nutrition concerns. The current paper presents a comparative analysis of nutrition messages from three Spanish-speaking Caribbean countries (Cuba, Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic) to explore how these dietary guidelines address common public health nutrition concerns, contextualized in different changing food environments and food culture similarities.DesignQualitative, comparative analysis of current dietary guideline documents and key recommendations.ResultsKey recommendations were categorized into sixteen themes (two diet-based, ten food-based and four ‘other’). Only the Cuban dietary guidelines included diet-based key recommendations. Of the ten food-based key recommendations, only four themes overlapped across the three dietary guidelines (the encouragement of fruits and vegetables, addressing protein sources and fat). Other overlaps were found between dietary guideline pairs, except between Cuba and Puerto Rico. Further analysis revealed differences in levels of specificity and acknowledgement of local dietary patterns and issues, as well as the need to revise the guidelines to account for current scientific advances.ConclusionsThe present study underscored the importance of context in the framing of dietary advice and the influence of national socio-economic and political situations on nutrition policy and education efforts. The results contribute to inform efforts to improve nutrition communication in the region and among migrant communities.

ObjectiveTo develop a household-level diet quality indicator (HDQI) using the Salvadorian dietary guidelines to assess the dietary quality of households in vulnerable communities in El Salvador.DesignThe Salvadorian dietary guidelines were reviewed and eighteen HDQI components were identified (nine foods and nine nutrients). The components were evaluated using a proportional scoring system from 0 to 1, penalizing over- and under-consumption, where appropriate. The HDQI was validated in consultations with experts in El Salvador and by statistical analyses of the study sample data. Dietary variety and energy, nutrient and food intakes were compared among households above and below the median HDQI score using Student's t test.SettingVulnerable, border communities in El Salvador.SubjectsHouseholds (n 140) provided food consumption information using an FFQ and sociodemographic data.ResultsThe mean HDQI score was 63·5, ranging from 43·6 to 90·0. The indicator showed a positive, significant association with the dietary variety components. The statistical associations of the indicator with the energy and nutrient components were as expected.ConclusionsBased on the indicator's demonstrated face validity and the results of the expert consultations, the indicator is suggested as a good measure of diet quality for households in El Salvador.