Department of Human Ecology Content

New Research Suggests FDA Should Consider Redesign of Proposed Nutrition Labels

Karen Michele Nikos-Rose — March 24, 2026 - 9:20am

Packaged foods offer convenience for families and individuals, but they can be a major source of saturated fat, sodium and added sugars, which when consumed in excess contribute to chronic disease. To help people build healthier diets, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposed a new front-of-package nutrition label in January 2025 that would inform consumers about the presence of these nutrients.

California Jews Experiencing Heightened Depression, Anxiety Since 2023 Hamas Violence

Karen Michele Nikos-Rose — August 18, 2025 - 3:15pm

California Jews are reporting significantly greater symptoms of depression and anxiety since the Hamas attacks on Israeli civilians in October 2023, according to a University of California, Davis, study.

CA Clean Air Law Making Strides in Overburdened Neighborhoods

Katherine E Kerlin — June 12, 2025 - 10:56am

For years, families in the Bay Area city of Richmond have lived with smoke and chemicals drifting from a nearby oil refinery. That kind of exposure poses serious health risks, but a new report from 51�ԹϺ�� Davis shows how California’s Assembly Bill (AB) 617 is helping residents take a more active role in monitoring and reducing air pollution in their neighborhoods.

How are Local Guaranteed-Income Programs Working Throughout U.S.?

Karen Michele Nikos-Rose — May 30, 2025 - 11:42am

In recent years, cash-assistance programs have been piloted across the United States, typically as guaranteed income. In a recent study, we explored how these programs are being designed and evaluated. Reviewing 105 programs covering over 40,000 beneficiaries, we compared eligibility criteria, funding sources, distribution amounts, program administration, pilot duration, and evaluation measures.

Culturally Supportive School Environments Contribute to Academic, Emotional, Social Success

Karen Michele Nikos-Rose — October 14, 2024 - 10:28am

All students, including those from ethnoracially diverse and from white backgrounds, benefit from supportive learning environments that accommodate adolescents’ multiple cultural and ethnic backgrounds, according to new University of California, Davis, research. These benefits span the academic, social and emotional realms.

Temptation at the Checkout: 70% of Food, Drinks Within Arm’s Reach Are Unhealthy

Karen Michele Nikos-Rose — June 07, 2023 - 12:00pm

About the study

Researchers analyzed the checkout lanes in 102 food stores in Davis, Sacramento, Oakland and Berkeley, California.

The study was published in Current Developments in Nutrition.

Citizen Scientists Help 51�ԹϺ�� Davis Researchers Spread Native Plant Seeds in Urban Areas

Karen Michele Nikos-Rose — November 15, 2022 - 10:15am

Bus stops, bike paths, sidewalks and other spots often overlooked in the community will become areas of beauty — for the sake of science. That’s the idea behind the Seed Pile Project, which asks community members from as far east as Sacramento and as far west as the East Bay to drop a pile of native wildflower seeds near their home or office and monitor the growth.

Global Food Supply-Chain Issues Call for Solutions

Karen Michele Nikos-Rose — June 27, 2022 - 8:45am

Global supply issues related to the pandemic and war in Ukraine have highlighted yet another global vulnerability — food availability.

While international trade allows countries to buffer against domestic food shortfalls and gain access to larger markets, what happens when supplies run short, or the global supply chain slows or even breaks down like it did during the pandemic?

Warning Labels Could Help Customers Identify Hidden Sugar in Restaurant Menus

Karen Michele Nikos-Rose — June 06, 2022 - 11:00am

Do you really want to order a soda with your burger? Just one soda can have more added sugar than the entire daily limit recommended for most adults.

Seeing a warning icon on a restaurant menu may help consumers identify the high amounts of added sugar hidden in menu items — and it may even convince them to reach for healthier items like water.

How Can We Make Cities Thrive?

Karen Michele Nikos-Rose — May 23, 2022 - 9:11am

51�ԹϺ�� Davis Professor Catherine Brinkley talks about how to make cities thrive in the Mindscape Podcast.