Kefir being poured into a glass
  • Who is conducting this study?
  • The NIFTY study is conducted Dr. Jennifer Smilowitz in collaboration with UC Davis faculty, Dr. Amy Nichols and Dr. Maria Marco. This study has been reviewed and approved by the UC Davis Institutional Review Board.
  • What is the purpose of this study

  • The purpose of this project is to understand the factors that influence the consumption of fermented dairy foods and drinks in individuals who are eligible to use Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) or use WIC. This project is made up of two studies:

    Study 1: Use an electronic survey to understand the relationships between demographic, cultural factors, perceptions, knowledge, and the use of fermented dairy foods and drinks by WIC-eligible individuals or WIC recipients.

    Study 2: Use a randomized controlled trial to study the effect of providing fermented dairy foods and drinks on health and diet quality in WIC-eligible individuals or WIC recipients.

  • Who is eligible to participate?
  • -Age 18 years or older.
    -CA resident for at least the last 12 months.
    -Shops for food that is used in the home or prepares meals for the home at the least half the time.
    -Ate or drank at least 1 fermented dairy food or drink (yogurt, cheese, kefir, etc.) in the last 30 days.
    -Willing to upload a photo of a driver’s license or CA identification card or receive a short phone call to verify identify and home address to receive a gift card.
    -Current WIC recipient or WIC-eligible (see WIC eligibility below).
    WIC eligibility (click here to see if you are eligible): 
    1)    Income level at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty level or receives Medi-Cal, CalFresh, CalWORKs, and or FDPIR; 
    and
    2)    Pregnant women (throughout pregnancy); or
    3)    Breastfeeding/chest feeding individuals (up to infant's first birthday); or
    4)    Postpartum women (up to 6 months after pregnancy ends); or
    5)    Individuals (including fathers or grandparents) with a child under age 5.
     
  • Who is NOT eligible to participate?
  • -Has an allergy to milk (this is an immune reaction to milk and not lactose intolerance which is a digestive condition).
    -Completed the NIFTY Survey in the past.
    -Another member of the home completed the NIFTY Survey in the past.
  • What is expected of participants during the study?
  • For Study 1 (NIFTY Survey), participants will take an electronic survey in English or Spanish. The survey can take as long as 25 minutes to finish. The survey will ask participants about their use, experience, and opinions in using fermented dairy foods and drinks and demographic information about themselves. Participants will have 2 weeks to complete the survey but can take a break and stop the survey, then restart again at the same place where they stopped. 

    Study 2 (randomized controlled trial) will be designed and started after the completion of Study 1.
  • Will participants be compensated for participation?
  • Yes. participants will receive a $50 electronic Target gift card about 2 weeks after they finish the survey.
  • Who is funding this project?
  • This project is co-funded by the Dairy Council of California and the California Dairy Research Foundation.