Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are industrially altered products – such as soft drinks, sweet and savory packaged snacks, prepared pizzas, and processed meats. Hundreds of new ingredients, previously unknown to the human body, now make up nearly 60% of the average adult’s diet and almost 70% of children’s diets in the United States. “These products reduceContinue reading “High intake of ultra-processed foods linked to systemic inflammation: New research”
Category Archives: Food Environment
New landmark EAT-Lancet Commission warns food systems breach planetary limits
On October 3, 2025, The 2025 EAT-Lancet Commission released its Report on Healthy, Sustainable, and Just Food Systems, presenting the most comprehensive global scientific evaluation of food systems to date. Analysis outlines pathway to health, equity, and a liveable planet Key findings of the new report include: “Building on its influential 2019 report, the new CommissionContinue reading “New landmark EAT-Lancet Commission warns food systems breach planetary limits”
Ultra-processed food increases risk of early death, international study finds
In a new study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine (Nilson et al., 2025), researchers reported “a linear dose-response association between the ultra-processed food consumption and all-cause mortality” when they examined official surveys previously undertaken in the United Kingdom (UK) and US, as well as Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Chile and Mexico. (NilsonContinue reading “Ultra-processed food increases risk of early death, international study finds”
Dietary & lifestyle strategies to reduce human exposure to microplastics and nanoplastics
In a recent commentary published in the journal Brain Medicine, three medical doctors (MDs) identified dietary and lifestyle-based strategies that may reduce human exposure to microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs). This commentary was published shortly after a research study published in Nature Medicine reported that the human brain contains “approximately a spoon’s worth of microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs).”Continue reading “Dietary & lifestyle strategies to reduce human exposure to microplastics and nanoplastics”
New study highlights freezer’s potential to reduce food waste and greenhouse gas emissions
“A national survey found that discarded frozen items make up about 6% of wasted household food in the United States. Based on frozen food’s relatively small contribution to food waste and other findings in the study, researchers say urging consumers to stock their freezers might be one way to prevent premature disposal of food. Results showedContinue reading “New study highlights freezer’s potential to reduce food waste and greenhouse gas emissions”
October 16: World Food Day 2024: Right to Foods for a Better Life and a Better Future – Leave No One Behind
“This year’s #WorldFoodDay theme, “Right to foods for a better life and a better future” spotlights the importance of diversity, nutrition, affordability, accessibility as well as the safety and sustainability of foods, raising awareness about how a greater diversity of nutritious foods should be available in our fields, fishing nets, markets, and on our tables, for the benefit of all. Today, hunger is often worsenedContinue reading “October 16: World Food Day 2024: Right to Foods for a Better Life and a Better Future – Leave No One Behind”
Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): What they are, where they are found, and how to limit exposure
Per – and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of synthetic chemicals characterized by a chain of carbon atoms bound to fluorine atoms through a process called fluorination.1 PFAS are a class of thousands of chemicals known or suspected to be endocrine-disrupting chemicals. According to the Endocrine Society and the International Pollutants Elimination NetworkContinue reading “Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): What they are, where they are found, and how to limit exposure”
World Obesity Atlas 2024: No area of the world is unaffected by the consequences of obesity
March 4, 2024 is World Obesity Day. This year’s Obesity Atlas, published by the World Obesity Federation, reveals that “No area of the world is unaffected by the consequences of Obesity,” and that: “Rising rates of obesity rates across the world reveal massive gaps in healthcare and nutrition, with poorest populations most adversely affected.” TheContinue reading “World Obesity Atlas 2024: No area of the world is unaffected by the consequences of obesity”
Towards a more holistic understanding of sustainable diets: An ecological public health approach
According to a recent scoping review titled, “Global dietary patterns are not sustainable” published in the journal Nutrition Reviews, a more holistic understanding of the concept ‘sustainable diets’ is needed. There is broad consensus that consumers must be encouraged to shift toward sustainable diets, defined by Burlingame and Dermini (2010) as: “diets with low environmentalContinue reading “Towards a more holistic understanding of sustainable diets: An ecological public health approach”
New research finds nearly 90% of proteins tested, even vegan alternatives, contain microplastics
Using less plastic and purchasing and consuming fewer pre-packaged highly processed foods should be on everyone’s sustainability list for 2024. Why is this the case? A new study by researchers at the University of Toronto and Ocean Conservancy published in the journal Environmental Pollution (2024) evaluated microplastics in different types of protein-containing foods in theContinue reading “New research finds nearly 90% of proteins tested, even vegan alternatives, contain microplastics”
Sustainable RDN 