Our Research

Every year, 500,000 Americans die from preventable diseases caused in part by unhealthy diets. And every year, food production accounts for one-fifth to one-third of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. Policy changes could make our diets healthier and our food systems more sustainable, but policymakers need evidence about which policies work and which don’t. Our research seeks to design and evaluate food policies to maximize their potential to improve health, prevent disease, and promote environmental sustainability.

We are nationally known for our program of research studying food policies including warning labels, beverage taxes, and food assistance programs. Our work has shown that well-designed food policies can encourage people to eat healthier foods, spur retailers to offer healthier options, reduce the environmental impacts of food production, and improve population health outcomes. Our work spans five primary areas: Food and Beverage Labeling Policies, Sugary Drink Taxes and Pricing Policies, Promoting Healthy and Environmentally Sustainable Diets, Food Assistance Programs, and Alcohol Warning Labels.