Research to Action News Brief
Research to Action, the Nutrition Policy Institute's quarterly news brief, provides information on research, policy, news, announcements, events, articles and action items focused on nutrition and healthy communities.
View previous issues below and sign up to be added to the mailing list.
2024
- Volume 8, Number 1: School Recess: A Chance to Address Health Inequity Across California
2023
- Volume 7, Number 4: Improving Access to Fresh, Local Produce for Incarcerated Californians
- Volume 7, Number 3: Join UC Experts in Working to Curb Sugary Drinks
- Volume 7, Number 2: Low Receipt of Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Among Eligible Families
- Volume 7, Number 1: The Nutrition Policy Institute’s Innovating Approach to Evaluating SNAP-Ed
2022
- Volume 6, Number 4: A multi-pronged approach to improve college students' food security
- Volume 6, Number 3: Support universal school meals
- Volume 6, Number 2: Healthy-by-Default beverage laws for kids' meals
- Volume 6, Number 1: Policy recommendations to strengthen WIC
2021
- Volume 5, Number 3: 2021: Nutrition Policy Institute research highlights
- Volume 5, Number 2: Healthy school meals for all
- Volume 5, Number 1: Supporting improved food security during the pandemic
2020
- Volume 4, Number 4: University students struggle with basic needs
- Volume 4, Number 3: Implementing healthy vending guidelines for college campuses
- Volume 4, Number 2: Nutrition and physical activity resources during emergency times
- Volume 4, Number 1: Promising approaches for healthy food retail interventions
2019
- Volume 3, Number 4: SNAP is under attack: our largest food assistance program needs your help
- Volume 3, Number 3: The science behind sugar sweetened beverages
- Volume 3, Number 2: Turn to the tap!
- Volume 3, Number 1: Ten-year study reveals that what communities do impacts child health
2018
- Volume 2, Number 4: Improving access to nutritious food in early care and education settings
- Volume 2, Number 3: Support school nutrition programs
- Volume 2, Number 2: Improving community health, one neighborhood at a time
- Volume 2, Number 1: Prevent food waste
2017
- Volume 1, Number 4: Support rural food banks
- Volume 1, Number 3: Medical and dental providers join forces to limit children's consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages
- Volume 1, Number 2: Protect WIC from budget cuts and block granting
- Volume 1, Number 1: Improve access to safe drinking water in California
NPI News Blog
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New study highlights impact of increased WIC benefits for fruits and vegetables among ethnic and racial groups
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, known as WIC, offers nutrition support to diverse populations. The Cash Value Benefit (CVB) for fruits and vegetables, is a key component of the WIC food packages that...
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California Bountiful Magazine features Nutrition Policy Institute’s collaborative Farm to Correction project
A recent Spring 2024 issue of the California Bountiful magazine, features Nutrition Policy Institute's collaborative research with Impact Justice and ChangeLab Solutions on their Farm to Corrections California project. The article titled,...
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New report shares perspectives from over 38,000 WIC participants in 21 states
Over 38,000 participants in the federal Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, commonly known as WIC, completed a satisfaction survey in summer of 2023. Conducted across 21 participating WIC state agencies in all US...
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Study examines sociodemographic factors in multi-program take-up of safety net programs among California families
US safety net programs provide aid to low-income households through cash and in-kind assistance, such as food and healthcare benefits. Using data from the Assessing California Communities' Experiences with Safety Net Supports ACCESS,study researchers...
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High support exists among parents of all income levels for School Meals for All in California
In a recent research brief, Nutrition Policy Institute researchers highlight the benefits of California's School Meals for All program which offers breakfast and lunch to all K-12 students at public and charter schools every instructional day, at no...
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NPI welcomes KC Whitsett as new project policy analyst
KC Whitsett joined the Nutrition Policy Institute at the University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources on March 25, 2024, as a project policy analyst. Originally from Virginia, KC earned a BS in Kinesiology and Health Sciences from the...
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NPI receives funding to conduct a research project on milk-fat content effects on toddler health
Milk provides various nutrients such as calcium, protein, and vitamin D, which are essential for health and brain development. In the US, it is advised that children switch from the recommended whole cow's milk from ages 1-2 to low-fat or non-fat milk...
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Research brief examines benefits of Massachusetts’ Healthy School Meals for All policy on families
A recent research brief from researchers at Merrimack College and the Nutrition Policy Institute highlights the impact of the Massachusetts Healthy School Meals for All policy on families. The policy was implemented in 2022, aiming to alleviate...
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NPI welcomes Caitlin French as new Assistant Project Scientist
Caitlin French joined the Nutrition Policy Institute at the University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources on March 1, 2024 as an Assistant Project Scientist. Caitlin earned her PhD in Nutritional Biology with an emphasis in Global Nutrition...
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California Agriculture publishes NPI-led special issue on lessons learned during COVID-19
California Agriculture, the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources research journal, has published a special issue on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic to inform Cooperative Extension programming and local, state, and federal...
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Study examines associations among participants in safety-net programs with government perceptions, welfare stigma, and discrimination
Safety net programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP nationally and CalFresh in California, and the Earned Income Tax Credit, commonly known as EITC, provides great benefits to families facing economic hardship...
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Nutrition Policy Institute comments to the US Food and Drug Administration’s strategies to reduce added sugars consumption in the United States
The excessive consumption of added sugars by Americans has surpassed the recommended levels outlined in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, highlighting a pressing public health concern.The Nutrition Policy Institute at the University of California,...
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Nutrition Policy Institute expands social media presence to LinkedIn
The Nutrition Policy Institute at the University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources is excited to announce the launch of our official LinkedIn Business Page. Follow us for the latest updates from NPI including research and policy insights,...
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New study suggests a need for the simplification of the student SNAP process
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP nationally, and commonly known as CalFresh in California, gives approximately 3.3 million college students access to essential food assistance. However, an estimated 57% of SNAP-eligible...
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NPI’s Wendi Gosliner interviewed for If I Could Change One Thing health policy podcast
Wendi Gosliner from the Nutrition Policy Institute discussed efforts to enhance population health and nutrition, focusing on eliminating disparities and improving federal food programs in a recent If I Could Change One Thing health policy podcast...
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Study examines differences in California parent’s perceptions of school meals during COVID by race and ethnicity
In May 2020, running until the end of the 2021-2022 school year, the US Congress authorized the US Department of Agriculture to issue nationwide waivers that allowed all schools to provide universal free school meals to mitigate the impacts of...
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Study outlines strategies needed for financial stability in an evaluation of a food hub intervention
Nutrition Policy Institute researchers studied an intervention for the expansion of the Mandela Health and Wealth Net, a food hub-based healthy retail initiative located in Oakland, California. The Mandela Produce Distribution food hub aggregates,...
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Editorial urges bold action for equitable access to nutrition assistance by all
More Americans are now sick with diet-related conditions than are well. In the American Journal of Public Health's special issue on "Policies and Strategies to Increase Equitable Access to Family Nutrition," Lorrene Ritchie and Wendi Gosliner of the...
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Study finds that SNAP and WIC stores offer healthier food retail environment in low-income California neighborhoods
A recent study examined how stores' participation in federal assistance programs, such as Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program— commonly known as WIC and SNAP or...
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NPI's director of community health Suzanne Rauzon retires
Suzanne Rauzon, director of community health for the Nutrition Policy Institute, will retire in January 2024. Rauzon's University of California career began over twenty years ago when she joined the UC Berkeley Center for Weight and Health, which joined...