1. Health note: Colorado Healthy School Meals for All Program

The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, PI: Stefanie Carignan, MA; Keshia Pollack Porter, PhD, MPH

The purpose of this project is to provide a brief, nonpartisan summary of peer-reviewed evidence and public health data on Colorado House Bill 25-1274 concerning the Healthy School Meals for All Program. The project aims to synthesize and disseminate a summary of the evidence regarding universal free school meals and the characteristics that increase or detract from universal free school meal program success. Read the Health Note.

2. SNAP purchase restrictions: A framework for evaluation

Syracuse University, PI: Colleen Heflin, PhD, MPP; Joanne Guthrie, PhD, MPH; and Michele Ver Ploeg, PhD, MS

SNAP is a major federal entitlement program that has undergone many recent changes. The impacts of SNAP restriction waivers demand careful evaluation to assess how effective these changes are in improving diet quality and whether they result in unintended consequences that reduce SNAP’s alleviation of food insecurity and poverty. This project aims to establish a research and evaluation agenda so that funders and researchers can plan data and research investments for evaluating impacts of SNAP restrictions.

3. Assessing food industry response to MAHA priorities and recommendations

National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy, PI: Mark K. Muth, PhD, MS

Misinformation in the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) assessment report is driving industry responses in product and ingredient reformulation. These changes could negatively affect healthy food access and diet quality for children, young adults, and other populations. The goal of this project is to assess how the food industry is changing food offerings in response to MAHA priorities and recommendations, particularly those that could be interpreted as misleading.

4. Threats to the success of the WIC Cash Value Benefit for fruits and vegetables

PHFE, Inc., DBA Heluna Health, PI: Shannon E. Whaley, PhD

Among the most significant public health nutrition successes of the last decade has been the increase in fruit and vegetable benefits available to women and children supported by the WIC program. This project aims to document the history of the WIC CVB; review the published evidence on the impact of changes to the WIC CVB on food security, diet quality and program participation; and model the potential impacts of proposed reductions in the CVB on food security, diet quality, and program participation.

5. The implications of banning synthetic food dyes on the food purchase quality of families with children

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, PI: Joshua Petimar, ScD

Synthetic food dyes are associated with adverse developmental outcomes in children, such as inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and other behavioral problems. Despite these potential health effects, removing synthetic dyes from the food supply stands to disrupt consumers’ food purchasing patterns, raising several questions about their impact on child health and health disparities. This study will use supermarket sales data, cohort data, and product nutrition data to understand the implications of removing synthetic dyes from the food supply on the nutritional quality of grocery purchases of families with children. Learn More.

6. Measuring the impact of charitable food program cuts on the nutritional quality of foods

University of Connecticut, PI: Caitlin Caspi, ScD

In the U.S., 17.9% of households with children reported that they could not meet the food needs of all household members due to a lack of money or other resources in 2023. This study aims to understand how abrupt cuts to USDA programs supporting the charitable food system (specifically, The Emergency Food Assistance Program and the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement) affect the supply of healthy foods available at food banks for distribution through their networks. Learn More.

7. Informing equitable implementation of SNAP food restriction waivers

Center for Nutrition and Health Impact (CNHI), dba CNH Nebraska, PI: Betsy Anderson Steeves, PhD, RDN

SNAP is the largest federally funded nutrition assistance program in the U.S., providing support to more than 40 million Americans. This study aims to provide tangible information, insights, and resources grounded in SNAP participants’ preferences and feedback to support the implementation and communication of SNAP Food Restriction waivers, minimizing barriers to SNAP participation and benefit utilization. Learn More.

8. Forecasting WIC funding needs: Supporting families, strengthening access

National WIC Association, PI: Georgia Machell, PhD

WIC serves more than 50% of all infants bornin the U.S. The goal of this project is to develop a national economic model that forecasts WIC funding needs through fiscal year 2027 using publicly available data. This model will allow researchers and advocates to anticipate how different funding levels may affect WIC’s ability to serve eligible families. Learn More.