Our diets have changed dramatically over the past 50 years. We now eat more highly processed food and we eat out more often. How are these changes affecting our dietary intake and health outcomes? Our research is helping to monitor dietary patterns, consumer trends, and to evaluate population-level nutrition policies design to improve dietary quality.
International Food Policy Study
Countries are implementing a range of new nutrition policies, including changes to nutrition labels, restrictions on marketing unhealthy foods, levies on sugar drinks, and other policies that shape the food environment. How effective are these policies in changing dietary behaviour among children and adults?
Food marketing
How do food ads influence what we buy and eat? Do restrictions on marketing of unhealthy foods work?
Nutrition labels on pre-packaged foods
Does the nutrition information on pre-packaged foods affect what we eat? Are there ways to improve consumer understanding and use of nutrient information on the side and back of packages?
Front-of-package food labels
Are consumers more likely to use nutrition information if it appears on the front of packages and uses symbols and other easy-to-understand information? Are some types of front-of-pack label systems better than others?
Menu labelling
Consumers often have little idea about the nutritional quality or calorie levels of restaurant food. Does mandating calorie information in large restaurant chains help?
