A new international study, led by researchers at the University of California, Davis, provides important evidence to help refine how anemia is defined in young children worldwide.
A new study published in The Lancet Global Health finds that large-scale food fortification programs—adding essential vitamins and minerals to staple foods such as flour, rice, oil, and salt—currently prevent about 7 billion inadequate micronutrient intakes worldwide each year at a cost of just $0.18 per person.
IGN Faculty Member, Dr. Jennifer L. Falbe (Department of Human Ecology) received the Distinguished Scholarly Public Service Award from the Academic Senate and Federation in recognition of her outstanding public service and sustained collaboration with communities, policy members, and public agencies.
On January 8, 2026, Dr. Lauren Au, Associate Professor of Nutrition at UC Davis and Registered Dietitian, joined KCBS Radio News Anchor Steve Scott to discuss FDA's new dietary guidelines on carbs, ultra-processed foods, alcohol consumption, and more. The updated recommendations include Health and Human Services Secretary RFK Jr.'s updated "food pyramid" prioritizing protein and healthy fats.
Co-led by UNICEF and WHO, the Global Complementary Feeding Collective brings together global partners to improve nutrition for children aged 6–23 months. By strengthening policies, programs, and advocacy, the Collective supports families, policymakers, and organizations to drive sustainable improvements during this critical window of growth.
On Friday, November 14th, 2025, Dr. Lauren Au (Department of Nutrition) joined Vicki Gonzalez on Capital Public Radio to discuss the impact of the government shutdown on food security and what it means for families across the country. Her insights highlight how policy decisions impact families in our communities.
The General Mills Bell Institute of Health and Nutrition Innovation Award recognizes an investigator whose scientific contributions advance the understanding of healthy dietary patterns, which includes whole grains, cereals, fruits, vegetables and/or dairy. Eligible recipients are conducting mechanistic, epidemiological, clinical, and/or translational research contributing to the understanding of the benefits of a healthy dietary pattern. This award is endowed by the General Mills Bell Institute of Health and Nutrition.
More than 20 years ago, researchers at the Institute for Global Nutrition at UC Davis conducted pioneering research showing that the growth patterns of breastfed infants differ from those of formula-fed infants. This groundbreaking work led the World Health Organization (WHO) to initiate the Multicenter Growth Reference Study, a six-country effort to create new growth standards for children under five years of age.
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation awarded Katherine Kwon the 2024 Jean Hankin Nutritional Epidemiology Research Grant of $20,000. The Jean Hankin Nutritional Epidemiology Research Grant is given to provide financial support to a doctoral student working on a dissertation in the area of nutritional epidemiology.
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation selected Jonnatan Fajardo as the 2024 $10,000 Foundation Scholarship winner. Jonnatan said, “I am incredibly honored to receive the 2024 Commission on Dietetic Registration Doctoral Scholarship, which will significantly support my research in global nutrition. This generous scholarship has already allowed me to attend the Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE), where I was able to connect with leading experts and gain valuable insights that will enhance my research.
Sometimes, all it takes to eat better is a little nudge in the right direction. A team of UC Davis researchers is working on a new smartphone app that makes it easier to eat healthy by recognizing what’s on your plate and offering personalized suggestions to improve your diet.
