Michael Jacobson, who holds a Ph.D. in microbiology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was co-founder (1971) and long-time (1978-2017) executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a nonprofit health advocacy organization. CSPI publishes Nutrition Action Healthletter, once the world’s largest-circulation nutrition newsletter, as well as numerous studies and reports. Under Jacobson’s leadership, CSPI used education, legislation, regulatory actions, and litigation to establish reforms including laws requiring Nutrition Facts labels on most food packages and calorie information on chain-restaurant menus, a law defining “organic foods,” and an FDA regulation banning artificial trans fat. In 2022, Jacobson continued his interest in educating the public about diverse food-related issues, by founding the National Food Museum.
Jacobson is the author or co-author of books, including: Salt Wars (MIT, 2020), Restaurant Confidential (Workman, 2002), Marketing Madness (Westview, 1995), What Are We Feeding Our Kids? (Workman, 1994), The Fast-Food Guide (Workman, 1986, 1991), The Complete Eater’s Digest and Nutrition Scoreboard (Doubleday, 1986), and Salt: The Brand Name Guide to Sodium (Workman, 1983). He has published dozens of articles and letters in academic journals, including the Journal of Molecular Biology, New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, American Journal of Public Health, Journal of the American Medical Association, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. His articles have appeared in the popular press, including Smithsonian, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, The Hill, and many regional newspapers. Jacobson’s numerous media appearances include Oprah and 60 Minutes.
Journal Article
With others, “Delayed Finalization of Sodium Targets in the United States May Cost Over 250,000 Lives by 2031,” Hypertension (2022)
Journal Article
With J. Wright, “Policies to Solve the Salt Problem,” Preventive Medicine (2021)
Book
Salt Wars: The Battle Over the Biggest Killer in the American Diet (MIT, 2020)
Article
With P. Lurie, “The latest official word on salt: Eat less,” FoodDive.com (May 1, 2019)
Journal Article
With N. Campbell, “Potassium Labeling of Foods: Potential Benefit for Blood Pressure,” Journal of Clinical Hypertension (2019)
Journal Article
With N. Campbell, “Shaking Out the Truth About Salt,” Journal of Clinical Hypertension (2019)
Journal Article
With others, “Potential Policy Approaches to Address Diet-Related Diseases,” Journal of the American Medical Association (2018)
Journal Article
With J. dePorter, “Self-reported Adverse Reactions Associated with Mycoprotein Containing Foods,” Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (2018)
Journal Article
“Marketing of Sugar Drinks – and Disease — in Developing Countries,” World Nutrition (2017)
Report
With A. Taylor, Carbonating the World: The Marketing and Health Impact of Sugar Drinks in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (Center for Science in the Public Interest, 2016)
Journal Article
With A. Batada, “Prevalence of Artificial Food Colors in Grocery Store Products Marketing to Children,” Clinical Pediatrics (2016)
Journal Article
With D. Schillinger, “Science and Public Health on Trial: Warning Notices on Advertisements for Sugary Drinks,” Journal of the American Medical Association (2016)
Journal Article
“Sweetening Their Own Deal,” PLOS Medicine (2015)
Journal Article
With others, “Trends in Trans Fatty Acids: Reformulations of US Supermarket and Brand-Name Foods from 2007 through 2011,” Preventing Chronic Disease (2013)
Journal Article
With others, “Changes in Sodium Levels in Processed and Restaurant Foods, 2005 to 2011,” JAMA Internal Medicine (2013)
Journal Article
With S. Kobylewski, “Toxicology of Food Dyes,” International Journal of Environmental Health (2012)
Article
“Are ADHD and Artificial Food Dyes Linked? The CQ Researcher Online (August 3, 2012)
Journal Article
“Carcinogencity and Regulation of Caramel Colorings,” International Journal of Occupational Environmental Health (2012)
Media Article
“Food Day: Working to Reform Our Food Systems from Farm to Fork,” The Atlantic (October 19, 2011)
Media Article
“What About the FDA?” New York Times (January 25, 2011)
Media Article
With D. Schab, “Those Bright Foods Have a Dark Side,” Washington Post (March 26, 2011)
Journal Article
With J. Shenkin, “Using the Food Stamp Program and Other Methods to Promote Healthy Diets for Low-Income Consumers,” American Journal of Public Health (2010)
Journal Article
With others, “Food Reformulations to Reduce Trans Fatty Acids,” New England Journal of Medicine (2010)
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