Fred Kuchler

Senior Economist
fred.kuchler@usda.gov

Briefly

Fred Kuchler is an economist in the Diet, Safety, and Health Economics Branch in the Food Economics Division. His current work examines the economics of food safety and the economics of information, including food labeling. Previous work has focused on dietary exposure to agricultural pesticides, agricultural asset values, and impacts of biotechnology.

Education

Fred holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Selected Publications

Stewart, H., F. Kuchler, J. Cessna, and W. Hahn. 2020. “Are Plant-Based Analogues Replacing Cow’s Milk in the American Diet?” Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics 51(2): 1-18.

Kuchler, F., M. Bowman, M. Sweitzer, and C. Greene. 2020. "Evidence from Retail Food Markets That Consumers Are Confused by Natural and Organic Food Labels," Journal of Consumer Policy 43(2):379-395.

Astill, G.M., F. Kuchler, J.E. Todd, and E.T. Page. 2020. “Shiga Toxin–Producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157:H7 and Romaine Lettuce: Source Labeling, Prevention, and Business,” American Journal of Public Health 110(3):322-328.

Kuchler, F., and C. Arnade. 2016. “Consumers’ Welfare and Off-Season Produce Imports,” European Review of Agricultural Economics 43(4):585-608.

Taylor, M., H.A. Klaiber, and F. Kuchler. 2016. “Changes in U.S. Consumer Response to Food Safety Recalls in the Shadow of a BSE Scare,” Food Policy 62:56-64.

Bowman, M., K. Marshall, F. Kuchler, and L. Lynch. 2016. “Raised Without Antibiotics: Lessons from Voluntary Labeling of Antibiotic Use Practices in the Broiler Industry,” American Journal of Agricultural Economics (proceedings) 98(2):622-642.

Arnade, C., F. Kuchler, and L. Calvin. 2016. “The Changing Role of Consumers and Suppliers in a Food Safety Event: The 2006 Foodborne Illness Outbreak Linked to Spinach,” Applied Economics 48(25):2354-2366.

Arnade, C., and F. Kuchler. 2015. Measuring the Impacts of Off-Season Berry Imports, ERR-197, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, October.

Kuchler, F. 2015. How Much Does It Matter How Sick You Get? Consumers’ Responses to Foodborne Disease Outbreaks of Different Severities, ERR-193, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, August.

Toole, A.A., and F. Kuchler. 2015. Improving Health Through Nutrition Research: An Overview of the U.S. Nutrition Research System, ERR-182, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, January.

Arnade, C., F. Kuchler, and L. Calvin. 2013. “Consumers’ Response When Regulators Are Uncertain About the Source of Foodborne Illness,” Journal of Consumer Policy 36(1):17-36.

Rahkovsky, I., S. Martinez, and F. Kuchler. 2012. New Food Choices Free of Trans Fats are Aligning U.S. Diets with Health Recommendations, EIB-95, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, April.

Mancino, L., and F. Kuchler. 2012. “Demand for Whole-Grain Bread Before and After the Release of the Dietary Guidelines,” Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy 34(1):76-101.

The Prevalence of the “Natural” Claim on Food Product Packaging Examining the Decline in U.S. Per Capita Consumption of Fluid Cow’s Milk, 2003–18 Economic Drivers of Food Loss at the Farm and Pre-Retail Sectors: A Look at the Produce Supply Chain in the United States Consumer Food Safety Practices: Raw Milk Consumption and Food Thermometer Use Beyond Nutrition and Organic Labels—30 Years of Experience With Intervening in Food Labels

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Prevalence of the “Natural” Label Varies by Food Category Fluid Milk Consumption Continues Downward Trend, Proving Difficult to Reverse Not All Consumers Are Following Food Safety Advice From Health Officials Federal Nutrition and Organic Labels Paved the Way for Single-Trait Label Claims Increased Consumer Sensitivity to Food Safety Raised Financial Costs of Ground Beef Recalls

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