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Published on: July 24, 2017
Public Awareness and Support for Governmental Intervention to Address Harms Associated With Consumption of
Jeff Niederdeppe1, Colleen L Barry1, Sarah E Gollust1
1Jeff Niederdeppe is with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy, and the Cornell Health Policy Center at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY. Colleen L. Barry is with the Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy and the Cornell Health Policy Center. Sarah E. Gollust is with the Division of Health Policy and Management at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis. Norman Porticella is with the Department of Communication at Cornell University. Kelly D. Brownell is with the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University, Durham, NC. Ashley N. Gearhardt is with the Department of Psychology at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Abstract:
Objectives. To assess public understanding of ultraprocessed foods (UPFs), support for governmental intervention to address UPF harms, and potential differences in understanding and support by political party. Methods. We partnered with YouGov on a web-based survey of 2000 adults weighted to be nationally representative in the United States to assess awareness and confidence in explaining UPFs, beliefs about UPF harms and UPF companies, responsibility for addressing UPF harms, and support for governmental actions to regulate UPF products and companies. We stratified results by political party. Results. Many Americans have heard of UPFs (58.1%), but fewer are confident in their understanding (32.8%). There is widespread recognition of UPF harms to physical health but less awareness of mental health harms. There is broad support among Democrats, Independents, and Republicans for several public policy and legal strategies designed to reduce UPF consumption. Conclusions. There is robust and bipartisan support for addressing UPF harms through many specific legal and policy interventions. (Am J Public Health. 2026;116(7):960-970. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2026.308498).
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