Nutrition Policy Institute News

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

New study finds dietary improvements without changes in weight for toddlers who adhere to recommendations to drink fat-free or low-fat milk by age two

January 14, 2026

By Danielle Lee, Lorrene D Ritchie

The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that toddlers transition from whole milk to fat-free or low-fat milk by the time they reach two years of age to reduce saturated fat intake and obesity risk. However the science is mixed as to whether consuming lower-fat milk truly supports improved…

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Randomized control trial shows drinking water promotion can prevent overweight and reduce sugar-sweetened beverage intake in schoolchildren

January 13, 2026

A new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine reports findings from a randomized controlled trial—the gold standard study design in health research—showing that promoting drinking water in elementary schools can help prevent overweight and reduce sugar-sweetened beverage intake among…

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Nutrition Policy Institute’s initial response to the new 2025-30 Dietary Guidelines for Americans

January 8, 2026

By Hannah R Thompson, Wendi Gosliner, Miranda W Brown, Christina E Hecht, Kenneth Hecht, Danielle Lee

On January 7, 2026, the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Agriculture (USDA) released the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs). The newly released Guidelines deviate from prior DGAs in both process and content. What happenedU.S. law requires that the DGAs be revised…

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Nutrition Policy Institute News: Article

New Journal of Nutrition review examines how nutrition ecology shapes child and adolescent development

January 8, 2026

By Danielle Lee, Lorrene D Ritchie

A new review published in the Journal of Nutrition highlights how children’s and adolescents’ nutrition—and its impact on health, learning, and development—is shaped by a complex nutrition ecology that extends beyond individual dietary intake. The paper is part of the Biomarkers of Nutrition for…

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Policy brief highlights how longer WIC participation is linked to healthier diets for young children

January 7, 2026

By Danielle Lee, Lorrene D Ritchie

A new policy brief highlights a study showing how longer participation in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, or WIC, is associated with higher diet quality among children ages 2 to 5. Using a national sample, the study showed that children who stayed enrolled in…

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