Oral

This session will highlight the importance of economic analysis in the practice of public health nutrition and foodborne illness prevention. The session will begin with an introduction framing the relevance of economic concepts and methods to meeting important public health challenges related to food consumption, and will then proceed with examples highlighting the importance of understanding time constraints in domestic food assistance programs, the role of product quality certification in ensuring child nutrition in developing countries, and how food consumption patterns influence the incidence of foodborne illness. Two common themes arise across all three studies: The importance of understanding how economic activity and institutions influence public health outcomes, and the role of economic research in interdisciplinary approaches to public health research and practice. The session will end with a brief moderated discussion between the audience and presenters. This session is organized and sponsored by the Food Safety and Nutrition Section of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA), the primary professional association representing agricultural and food economists. All session participants are experts in the economics of food consumption, nutrition, and food safety, and are active researchers and participants in policy and outreach discussions.

Session Objectives: 1. Identify the role of economic analysis in enhancing the understanding and practice of public health nutrition; 2. Discuss economic aspects of key challenges in the public health of food and nutrition, including food support programs, infant food supplementation, and foodborne illness; and 3. Describe key methods and concepts relevant for conducting economic studies of food and nutrition.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)