Articles tagged with Food Policy
Trans fat policies have led to a decline in its availability worldwide, with bans proving the most effective approach. The removal of trans fats from the food supply is identified as a
Researchers at NYU College of Global Public Health and Tufts' Friedman School examine options for categorizing and taxing junk food. A federal excise tax on manufacturers appears feasible, with potential benefits in reducing disease burden from unhealthy food consumption.
A new study by RAND Corporation found that a new supermarket in a low-income neighborhood can improve residents' economic well-being and health. Researchers surveyed 831 residents and reported improvements in economic benchmarks, such as reduced food insecurity and lower rates of high cholesterol.
David Hughes and his team received an Honorable Mention for their work on The Economics of Local Food Systems: A Toolkit to Guide Community Discussions, Assessments and Choices. The toolkit aims to provide standardized evaluations of food systems, leading to better-informed policy decisions.
A recent study published by Swansea University found that babies who feed themselves solid foods have no increased risk of choking. The study analyzed 1151 mothers and their babies aged 4-12 months, concluding that baby-led weaning approaches do not pose a choking risk as long as high-risk foods are avoided.
A new study suggests that altering prices of seven dietary items could prevent an estimated 23,000 deaths per year in the US. The study found that subsidies for healthy foods and taxes on unhealthy foods could reduce deaths from stroke, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, especially among Americans with lower socioeconomic status.
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded $5.4 million in grants to study the environmental impact of genetically engineered organisms and develop methods for monitoring their dispersal. Researchers will investigate probiotics, CRISPR gene-edited trees, and other biotechnology innovations to inform food safety p...
New research suggests that reducing deforestation and increasing soil carbon sequestration in agriculture can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining or improving food security. This approach has the potential to bring benefits for climate change mitigation while minimizing trade-offs with food security.
A new study in Global Food Security found that livestock consume mostly foods unfit for human consumption, making their impact on the human food supply smaller than previously thought. The research also showed that certain production systems contribute directly to global food security by producing highly valuable nutrients.
A new UBC study found that Canadian children consume approximately one-third of their daily calories during school hours, but intake of dairy products and key nutrients is lower, while less nutritious foods like sugar-sweetened beverages are relatively higher.
A study by Virginia Tech researchers found that a federal regulation aimed at promoting healthier snacks in schools had no significant impact on students' snacking habits. Despite improvements in nutritional value, teens did not report making healthier choices.
New Indiana University research suggests that limiting access to fast-food restaurants will not reduce obesity. Instead, the study found that changes in the availability of healthy food options, such as supermarkets and nutritious food outlets, may make it easier for people to access healthy foods.
Scientists at Michigan State University found that examining daily climate minutia provides a better understanding of variable land climates, crucial for policy-making. The study reveals dramatic swings in northern China's climate, affecting agriculture and economic development.
A new study suggests that implementing targeted food policies, such as subsidies for fruit and vegetables and taxes on sugar sweetened drinks, could avert hundreds of thousands of deaths from cardiovascular disease in the US. These economic incentives have been successful in improving dietary choices in the past.
A national fruit and vegetable subsidy is estimated to avert 150,500 CVD deaths, while a mass media campaign might reduce deaths by 25,800. A tax on sugar sweetened beverages could avert 31,000 CVD deaths, with a combination of these policies potentially saving around 230,000 lives
Researchers have made groundbreaking advances in understanding how food affects our bodies and make healthy choices. Dark chocolate has been shown to reduce oxidative stress and improve memory, while cinnamon activates an enzyme that regulates blood sugar levels.
Researchers found that nutrition label users tend to select healthier foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and beans, while avoiding refined grains and fried foods. The study suggests that dining facilities can encourage healthy eating behaviors by increasing nutrient-dense food options and product reformulations.
A Yale University study found that areas restricting trans fats in foods had fewer hospitalizations for heart attack and stroke. The finding suggests limiting trans fats could have a widespread impact as the FDA's ban takes effect nationwide.
New research reveals that limiting sugary drinks through portion limits can backfire when businesses offer smaller cup sizes with free refills, leading to increased overall consumption. In contrast, bundling large drinks in smaller portions appears to decrease interest in purchasing the larger option.
Researchers aim to determine whether quitting e-cigarettes causes withdrawal symptoms, with a focus on nicotine levels and potential health risks. A National Cancer Institute-funded study is recruiting long-term e-cigarette users for an eight-week experiment involving nicotine withdrawal reporting and breath/urine sampling.
A new study suggests that image-based dietary assessment (IBDA) has promise in improving health outcomes and nutrition policy, but more formalized training is needed for dietitians to accurately assess food intake. Dietitians need training in skills such as food measurement, preparation, and computerized nutrient database systems.
A systematic review found that lowering healthy food costs increases their consumption, while raising unhealthy food costs decreases intake. This intervention strategy has the potential to prevent disease and reduce healthcare costs associated with diet-related health issues.
A new Brown University study found that SNAP benefits increase a household's overall spending on food each month, with an equivalent cash benefit leading to much smaller increases in food spending. Households receiving $100 in SNAP benefits spend around $50 more on food each month.
A new study found that educating diners about the environmental impact of food waste reduces waste, but this benefit disappears when participants know their scraps will be composted. The study highlights the complexity of managing food waste and suggests a nuanced approach to address the issue.
A global analysis of marketed complementary foods found a widespread lack of consistency in their nutritional content. Only 15% met benchmarks for fat content and under 25% met standards for iron and zinc.
A new study reveals that people favor policies that reward voluntary behavior and create advantages, while opposing those that punish obligatory behavior or create disadvantages. By understanding this 'matching effect,' policymakers can improve policy acceptance rates.
A community-led campaign that included policy changes, education efforts and culture-shifting initiatives reduced sugary drink sales by nearly 20 percent in Howard County, Maryland. The campaign, led by the Horizon Foundation and partners, also improved food choices and reduced obesity risk.
Increased enrollment in Georgia's SNAP program led to a 82% growth in food retailers between 2007-2014. Small retailers accounted for the majority of this increase, with many convenience stores and gas stations expanding their SNAP acceptance.
A Queensland University of Technology researcher found that the food industry has more access points to policymakers than nutrition professionals, giving it greater influence over policy. To address this, experts recommend policies like sugar-sweetened beverage taxes and mandatory front-of-pack labeling.
A new NYU study found that only a small fraction of fast-food consumers make healthy choices due to current calorie labeling. The researchers recommend improving labeling to boost the odds of diners making healthy choices, including making calorie information more visible and providing average daily recommended intake.
Replacing maximum SNAP allotment with a real-cost benefit and expanding WIC eligibility to age 6 can help families who experience food insecurity. Additionally, maintaining CEP for school meal programs can increase access to food for children in low-income households.
A new study found that US federal food assistance programs face a critical issue with their age limits, which can lead to increased food insecurity for families. The current program restricts eligibility for children at the age of five, despite many not attending school immediately after.
Researchers at RIT will study innovative technologies and policies to minimize and manage food waste across the supply chain. The goal is to create efficient use of energy and water resources while addressing social, economic, and environmental impacts.
A new study finds that trade liberalization could buffer economic losses in agriculture due to climate change, with potential savings of up to 2.5 trillion US Dollars. The research highlights the importance of trade as a key measure to reduce climate change impacts on the agricultural sector.
A Virginia Tech researcher found that students from low-income families and those living in the Northeast, South, and rural America are most susceptible to obesity due to government-funded school meal programs. Long-term participation posed the largest risk of being overweight.
A recent study from Aarhus University found that Danes' knowledge of shelf life labels has improved, with 70% correctly identifying the difference between labels. However, many consumers throw away food after the 'best before' date without checking its edibility, highlighting a need for greater awareness and education.
A new food-print model suggests that the US can feed up to 800 million people from existing agricultural land with dietary changes. A vegetarian diet with dairy products has the highest carrying capacity, while vegan diets have the lowest.
A recent study found that only 53% of Americans are aware of food waste being a problem, despite its negative environmental impacts. The study identified practical benefits such as reduced risk of foodborne illness, but also feelings of guilt and misconceptions about the importance of food waste.
A recent study published in JAMA Network found that consuming a diet high in subsidized foods, such as high-fat meat and dairy products, is associated with a higher risk of obesity and cardiometabolic diseases. The study suggests that individuals who consume fewer subsidized foods have a lower probability of being obese.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pennsylvania found that online food ordering reduced calorie counts by about 10 percent when menus used traffic light color-coded labels, numeric labels, or a combination of both. The study suggests that clearer information helps consumers make healthier choices.
The US Department of Agriculture has awarded $16.8 million in grants to support initiatives encouraging SNAP participants to purchase fruits and vegetables. The funding will benefit regional food producers, local economies, and the health of low-income families.
Eating a Mediterranean diet rich in vegetable fats like olive oil and nuts has been shown to have little effect on bodyweight or waist circumference compared to a low-fat diet. The study suggests that current health guidelines recommending low-fat diets may be creating unnecessary fear of healthy fats.
The Johns Hopkins Berman Institute will pursue two projects on global food ethics, including explicit discussion of future food systems and ethical certification. The program aims to address complex issues in food security, nutrition, and agriculture with a focus on bioethics.
The new guidelines call for population-based approaches to prevent cardiovascular disease, with adapted target levels for blood pressure and lipids. Reducing population risk by 1% can prevent 25,000 CVD cases and save €40 million per year.
Research from the University of Cambridge found that neighborhoods saturated with fast food outlets exacerbate social inequalities in diet and obesity. Individuals with lower education levels consumed more unhealthy takeaway food and were more likely to be obese in areas with higher takeaway outlet densities.
A study by MIT professor David Atkin found that migrants who hold onto their native cuisines often face a caloric tax, resulting in reduced calorie intake. In India, this phenomenon affects poor migrants on tight budgets, with a 7.2% reduction in calories.
Research from Ohio State University found that stores in low-income areas are often closed too early, limiting access to healthy food options. The study suggests that extended store hours and transportation services could help meet consumers' needs.
Researchers at Cornell University found that consumers who have poor eating habits benefit most from long-term reward incentives for healthy food choices. In contrast, healthy eaters are more likely to purchase less healthy items when offered price breaks.
One third of global food is lost or wasted, causing environmental harm and contributing to global warming. Individual actions, such as checking fridge contents before shopping and adjusting consumer choices, can significantly impact sustainability.
The cooperative extension program has been instrumental in keeping farmers on the farm, with the federal program helping to retain over 137,000 agricultural businesses. By leveraging research from land grant universities, the program provides education and learning opportunities to farmers and citizens alike.
A new study suggests that improving the nutritional facts panel on food packages could lead to better consumer choices and reduced obesity rates. The research found that adding key nutrients and using a traffic light system improved consumers' ability to make informed decisions.
Researchers at the University of Alberta advocate for increasing dietary fiber intake to regain lost microbial biodiversity. A recent study found that mice fed a Western diet with low fiber transferred lower beneficial microbial species to future generations, indicating extinctions had occurred in just a few generations.
Michigan State University has been awarded $4.4 million from the US Agency for International Development to strengthen its efforts in food security policy and research in Mali. The grant will support policy initiatives aimed at improving agricultural productivity, nutrition, and livelihood resilience.
A Stanford University simulation model analyzes how modern interventions affect the Amazon rainforest and its indigenous inhabitants. The study reveals that agro-industrial land development and loss of traditional taboos lead to biodiversity decline and ecosystem collapse.
Experts call for legislative action to reduce food waste, citing 7% global emissions contribution and need for sustainable food system. Voluntary agreements deemed insufficient, smaller portions and healthier diets proposed as complementary measures.
A new study suggests that caregivers can lower children's meal calories by choosing lower-calorie products and strategic portion sizes. By serving larger portions of lower-calorie foods with smaller portions of higher-calorie foods, children's overall caloric intake can be substantially reduced.
Agricultural expansion is a leading cause of wild species loss and greenhouse gas emissions. To combat this, researchers propose "land-sparing mechanisms" that link yield increases with habitat protection, such as zoning and smart subsidy schemes. By minimizing farming's footprint, land can be spared for conserving natural habitats.
A new study by University of Liverpool health expert Dr Emma Boyland confirms that unhealthy food advertising significantly increases food consumption in children. The analysis of 22 studies found that television and internet advertising equally impact children's eating habits.
A new study suggests that lifting the EU pigswill ban could save around 1.8 million hectares of land by using heat-treated food waste as pig feed, cutting land use by 21.5% and feed costs in half. The model also shows that swill feeding is a safer alternative to grain-based diets.
A recent study suggests that eliminating food deserts may not lead to improved dietary quality in the US. Instead, initiatives like education and changes to food assistance programs can have a greater impact on reducing disparities in diet quality. The authors argue that addressing these disparities is crucial for improving public health.