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Nutrition Policy Institute News

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The latest news and updates from the Nutrition Policy Institute at the University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources. Sign up to receive Research to Action, the Nutrition Policy Institute's quarterly news brief providing information on research, policy, news, announcements, events, articles and action items focused on nutrition and healthy communities.

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NPI News Archive: 2019 • 2018 • 2017 • 2016 • 2015

Nutrition Policy Institute News: Article

Qualitative study explored California families’ experiences with pandemic safety net expansions and retractions

October 10, 2025
By Brianna Aguayo Villalon, Danielle Lee, Wendi Gosliner
During the COVID-19 pandemic, US social safety net programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP, Pandemic-EBT, and the Child Tax Credit, were temporarily expanded or created to combat rising food, housing, and economic insecurity among families. A recent study…
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New study examines predictors of diet quality and weight status in early childhood

October 1, 2025
By Brianna Aguayo Villalon, Danielle Lee, Lorrene D Ritchie
Socioeconomic status strongly influences children's nutrition and health, as low-income families often face barriers in meeting basic needs. To help address these challenges and reduce health disparities, safety net programs such as Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and the Special…
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Nutrition Policy Institute News: Article

Nutrition Policy Institute welcomes Hannah R. Thompson as new director

September 25, 2025
By Danielle Lee
Hannah R. Thompson began her role as the new director of the Nutrition Policy Institute beginning September 1, 2025. Thompson has served as NPI’s senior epidemiologist since 2020 while also working as an assistant research professor at the University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health. She…
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Parents and staff are highly supportive of freshly prepared school meals but raise concerns about food waste

September 22, 2025
By Brianna Aguayo Villalon, Danielle Lee, KC Fiedler, Lorrene D Ritchie
A recent study published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior explored the perceptions of elementary school parents and staff in a large, urban California school district that recently introduced more freshly-prepared school lunches. Based on interviews and focus groups conducted from May…
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