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Food choices influence the health and well-being of individuals.
Dietary concerns from an earlier era—malnutrition and
inadequate nutrient intakes—have been replaced by concerns
about overconsumption of calories and saturated fats;
underconsumption of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables;
and health conditions such as obesity. Illnesses and various
health conditions associated with poor diets have economic
costs for both individuals and society. ERS examines factors
driving dietary choices and the economic consequences
of nutritional and health outcomes such as obesity.
Food choices by U.S. households also influence the types
of crops that America's farmers grow, the prices farmers
receive, and the way in which various crops are transformed
into food products. Changes in consumer food choices are
reflected in the food marketing system and can lead to
changes in the output of the farm sector. Food markets
also respond to changing food choices by introducing new
products to meet new consumer demands. ERS monitors the
effects of food consumption choices on agriculture.
 Consumption of food
prepared away from home plays an increasingly large
role in the American diet. ERS economists examine the
factors influencing this trend and its consequences for
diet quality. The Federal Government promotes improved
nutrition through nutrition
information initiatives, such as the Dietary Guidelines
for Americans and the MyPyramid plan, and
through regulatory mechanisms, such as mandatory nutrition
labeling of packaged foods. ERS conducts economic analyses
of the effects of information provision and nutritional
literacy on dietary outcomes.
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