Produce Prescriptions and Veggie Meter Scores for College Food Security

This study is looking at whether providing weekly boxes of fresh produce, called "Produce boxes," can help college students who have trouble affording healthy food. Researchers want to see if these boxes increase the amount of fruits and vegetables students eat, improve their food security (meaning they have reliable access to enough food), and boost their nutrient levels. They will measure nutrient levels in the skin using a non-invasive finger scan called a Veggie Meter. To join, you must be a Rutgers Health student, 18 or older, and able to pick up a produce box weekly for 8 weeks. The study is currently unclear on its recruitment status.

Study design
This is an interventional study aiming to enroll 20 participants. The phase of the study is not specified.
What's involved
You would receive one free box of fresh fruits and vegetables and nutrition education materials weekly for 8 weeks. You would also participate in data collection at weeks 0, 4, and 8.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your skin carotenoid score will be measured at the beginning (Week 0) and at the end of the study (Week 8).

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT07511699

Produce Prescriptions and Veggie Meter Scores for College Food Security

Not Yet Recruiting
NAAges 18+InterventionalHealth services
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
~20 participants
Updated 2026-05-07 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Produce boxes

At a glance

Recruiting sites
0 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Change in Skin Carotenoid Score
Measured over Baseline (Week 0) and Study Completion (Week 8)
Food Insecurity
Carotenoid Status
Produce Prescription

NCT07511699

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • Rutgers Health Food Pantry

    Newark, New Jerseystudy coordinator listed

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

  • Joachim D. Sackey, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Rutgers Health, Rutgers University

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Must be a currently enrolled student at Rutgers Health.
Must be 18 years of age or older.
Must be able to pick up a produce box weekly at the designated campus distribution site for 8 consecutive weeks.
Must provide informed consent to participate in the study, including all data collection time points (Weeks 0, 4, and 8).

Exclusion

Not a currently enrolled student at Rutgers Health.
Less than 18 years of age.
Not able to pick up food weekly
Not willing to go through study assessments.
  • Change in Skin Carotenoid ScoreBaseline (Week 0) and Study Completion (Week 8)

    Skin carotenoid levels are measured using the Veggie Meter, a non-invasive device that utilizes reflection spectroscopy to provide an objective biomarker of fruit and vegetable intake. The Veggie Meter score is measured on a continuous scale ranging from 0 to 800 units. A higher score indicates a higher concentration of carotenoids in the skin, which serves as a proxy for increased consumption of carotenoid-rich fruits and vegetables. The study will evaluate the change in these scores to determine the impact of the produce box intervention.