🌿 Last week we wrapped up our 2026 FERN fellowships! The fellows spent the summer doing hands-on nutrition research and building professional skills. We sincerely thank Veronica, Clara, and Ade for their hard work and meaningful contributions! Read more about the 2026 fellows here: go.unc.edu/Et3a8

📄 New review: Policies to reduce ultra-processed food consumption may be most effective when paired with policies that promote minimally processed foods. The authors outline strategies to improve diets, health, and equity. link.springer.com/article/10.1...

Integrating Policies that Enable Minimally Processed Foods with Policies that Restrict Ultra-Processed Foods for Obesity and Noncommunicable Disease Prevention - Current Obesity Reports

Purpose of Review Historically, many food policies for obesity and noncommunicable disease prevention focus on reducing the demand for ultra-processed foods (UPFs). This narrative review examines why ...

link.springer.com

💧 New research from Ghana suggests taxing bottled water alongside sugary drinks may undermine public health where safe drinking water is limited. Exempting bottled water and investing beverage tax revenue in water infrastructure could improve health and equity. www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/23...

🇨🇱 10 years ago this week, Chile’s trailblazing Law of Food Labeling and Advertising came into effect. To mark the occasion, we are sharing a new film documenting and celebrating the history of the law, its impacts, and Chile’s leadership in the global food policy landscape. vimeo.com/user25927637...

🥕📊 New research found that Chile's Bolsillo Saludable pilot helped low-income families access more fruits and vegetables. Nearly all subsidy funds were used and participants reported positive changes in their diets. 🔗 www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org/app-based-fo...

App-based food subsidy program increases dietary quality among low-income families in Chile - Global Food Research Program

The first evaluation of a pilot community-based food subsidy app published recently in Current Developments in Nutrition found promising results for increasing fruit and vegetable purchases among low-...

globalfoodresearchprogram.org

🏆 Congratulations to GFRP co-founder Barry Popkin, who has received this year's David Kritchevsky Career Achievement Award from the American Society for Nutrition Foundation honoring outstanding contributions to nutrition research and education. sph.unc.edu/sph-news/pop...

Popkin receives national achievement award from American Society for Nutrition Foundation - UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health

June 22, 2026 Dr. Barry Popkin, W.R. Kenan Jr. Distinguished Professor in the Department of Nutrition at the Gillings School, is the 2026 recipient of the David Kritchevsky Career Achievement Award, w...

sph.unc.edu

🇨🇱 New study in @thelancet.com finds that Chile’s front-of-package warning labels + marketing and school food restrictions reduced obesity in young children, providing the first global evidence that coordinated national food policies can directly improve health. go.unc.edu/z6C5P #FoodPolicy

The impact of Chile's multipronged food labelling and advertising law on early childhood excess weight: a cohort difference-in-differences study

Phase 1 of Chile's comprehensive FLAL plausibly caused a measurable decrease in the prevalence of excess weight among young school children. The results provide crucial, evidence-based support for pol...

go.unc.edu

🗺️ We're excited to share our updated world map of national policies restricting harmful food marketing to children! Update includes: latest UK & Norway policies + additional comparisons of policy designs & adherence to WHO guidelines. Check it out: www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org/resource/map...

What is a clear, evidence-informed definition of ultraprocessed foods and what practical policies can reduce widespread availability and consumption of UPFs? Find out more at bit.ly/UPFdefinition #HealthyEating #NutritionPolicy #UltraprocessedFoods

To tackle its obesity crisis, Chile added warning labels on foods high in sugar. Sales of these items fell — but there was an unintended consequence: a boom in non-sugar sweeteners as companies reformulated their products to avoid the labels. Read more: https://examination.news/4w6QIp8 

We're excited to share a new policy resource! This fact sheet covers fiscal policies to improve access to + demand for healthy, whole and minimally processed foods. Includes global examples, focusing on low- and middle-income countries: www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org/resource/fis... #FoodPolicy

New review identified >400 policies aimed at helping consumers ID products with non-sugar sweeteners and reducing their exposure. Authors highlight restrictions on use, excise taxes, & front-of-package warnings/disclosures as policies with most potential impact. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Beyond Added Sugar Reduction: A Narrative Review of Policies to Address Nonsugar Sweeteners

This perspective provides policymakers, advocates and researchers with a description of proposed and enacted policies that assist consumers in identif…

sciencedirect.com

🛑 New study from colleagues at @inspmx.bsky.social found that after Mexico required front-of-package warning labels on unhealthy packaged foods, people bought significantly less calories, added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium at the store. Learn more: authors.elsevier.com/a/1msG2-CmV9... #FOPL

📣 2 weeks left to apply to our new Research for Innovative Food Policy Fund! Receive up to $100,000 for research into innovative policy approaches that transform food environments, ⬇️ reliance on ultra-processed foods & drinks, & ⬆️ access to healthy foods. Learn more & apply here: go.unc.edu/Sf9w5

We are excited to announce a call for letters of intent for the new Research for Innovative Food Policy Fund! 🏆 We’re looking for bold, next-stage food policy ideas that move five steps ahead of what’s currently on the table. Learn more: tinyurl.com/34d4kmdj #FoodPolicy #NutritionResearch

What do South African teens think about the food in their schools? In a new study, students report unhealthy ultra-processed foods are rampant & healthy options scarce. Some proposed banning unhealthy foods in schools + providing affordable, filling, healthy options. Read here: www.mdpi.com/3719240

A new Chilean study suggests that when calorie warnings and environmental labels appear together on food packages, they may interact in unexpected ways, with implications for coherent front-of-package policy. 🔗 Check out the full study: tinyurl.com/fbswsprd

Examining the co-occurrence of nutritional warning labels and environmental labels on food packages: Effects on consumer perceptions and likelihood of purchase

Health and environment front-of-package labels are increasingly used to influence consumer behavior. This study aimed to assess the impact of calorie …

sciencedirect.com

New study from Alexandra Ross and @shuwenng.bsky.social found that pandemic-era SNAP benefit increases were associated with: 🥦 Higher purchases of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes 🥤 Lower purchases of sugar-sweetened beverages 🔗https://tinyurl.com/28pkuj2t

Did Increases in SNAP Benefits from the Emergency Allotments and Thrifty Food Plan Modernization Shift Grocery Purchase Quality in North Carolina?

The federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) seeks to improve food and nutritional security, but pre-pandemic evidence suggests benefi…

sciencedirect.com

Applications are open for FERN 2026! The Fellowship for Exploring Research in Nutrition (FERN) is a 9-week paid summer fellowship for undergraduate students interested in food & nutrition policy research. No previous research experience required! www.globalfoodresearchprogram.org/home/idea/fe...

FERN: Fellowship for Exploring Research in Nutrition - Global Food Research Program

Mission The Fellowship for Exploring Research in Nutrition (FERN) aims to strengthen the future nutrition research workforce in the United States by enabling and encouraging broader participation by a...

globalfoodresearchprogram.org

“When my daughter bought Doritos in the lunch line in kindergarten, she was thrilled...I was shocked. How is it acceptable that we are giving 5-year-olds such free access to ultraprocessed foods?” — @lindseytaillie.bsky.social explores this in @nytopinion.nytimes.com www.nytimes.com/2025/12/08/o...

Opinion | Can We Agree Kids Don’t Need Doritos at School?

nytimes.com

📣 Job alert! We're looking for a research project manager to work on food policy issues ranging in the US and globally. If you’re detail-oriented, love project management, and have a heart for creating better food systems, please learn more and apply here: unc.peopleadmin.com/postings/309...

Ultra-processed foods — what’s the impact? In a new @thelancet.com Series coauthored by Barry Popkin, experts warn a global rise in UPFs presents a growing public health threat. Read more about the evidence and policy recommendations ➡️ tinyurl.com/ya2wutpd #UPFAction #GlobalHealth

Ultra-Processed Foods and Human Health

This 3-paper Series reviews the evidence about the increase in ultra-processed foods in diets globally and highlights the association with many non-communicable diseases. This rise in ultra-processed ...

tinyurl.com

There's still time to register for tomorrow's global launch of a landmark three-paper Lancet Series exploring how ultra-processed foods came to dominate what the world eats — and what we can do about it! Register at the link below. Launch is Wed. Nov. 19, 1:30–3:45 pm EST #UPFs #ultraprocessedfoods

The Lancet@thelancet.com · 10mo ago

Ultra-processed foods are reshaping global diets, health, & the planet. Join us for the global launch of a new Series on UPFs & Human Health on 19 Nov. 🌍 Experts will unpack the science, policy, & politics of #UPFs. Register to attend 👉 tinyurl.com/3h2t5mr4

How did ultra-processed foods come to dominate what the world eats, and what can we do about it? 🌍 Join the global launch of the @thelancet.com Series on UPFs & Human Health where experts will unpack the science, policy & politics. 🔗 Register: www.fsp.usp.br/nupens/launc...

A new study published in Current Developments in Nutrition by Sara Vandersip, @lindseytaillie.bsky.social , @annagrummon.bsky.social, @cprestemon.bsky.social, and Alexandria Reimold found that a quarter of adults waste at least 30% of their food: cdn.nutrition.org/article/S247...

Food Waste among Young Adults: Behaviors, Barriers, and Opportunities for Intervention

Reducing food waste is critical for protecting planetary and human health. Given that young adulthood is often a formative period for learning food management skills, young adults are a key demographi...

cdn.nutrition.org

@lindseytaillie.bsky.social recently joined global leaders at the 2025 Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Forum in New York City to discuss global obesity policy. The forum brought together experts from various sectors to collaborate on the world’s most pressing challenges 🌍

Ready to take the next step in your research career? 📚🌍 Learn, collaborate, and drive change in food systems and policy. 📅Note: The webinar date has changed! Join us for an interactive session, now on Thursday, November 13, 2025: unc.zoom.us/webinar/regi... Details in the flyer ⬇️

Ready to take the next step in your research career? 📚🌍 Learn, collaborate, and drive change in food systems and policy. @uncpublichealth.bsky.social Join us for an interactive webinar on Thursday, November 6, 2025: unc.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Student Spotlight: Meet Cristina Lee, MPH — Our new doctoral student joining the GFRP team this fall under the advisorship of Shu Wen Ng. Cristina is excited to advance research that informs equitable food policies & supports healthier communities. @uncpublichealth.bsky.social tinyurl.com/2nu8cb7w

Congratulations to Marissa Hall, 2025 recipient of the Hettleman Prize! This is awarded to 5 UNC faculty exemplifying innovative research & future career promise. Marissa's work focuses on how front-of-package labeling, marketing, and availability shape consumer choices. Read more: go.unc.edu/w4TXr