Jennifer Pomeranz
Jennifer L Pomeranz
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Associate Professor of Public Health Policy and Management
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Professional overview
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Professor Jennifer Pomeranz is a public health lawyer who researches policy and legal options to address the food environment, obesity, products that cause public harm, and social injustice that lead to health disparities.
Prior to joining the NYU faculty, Professor Pomeranz was an Assistant Professor at the School of Public Health at Temple University and in the Center for Obesity Research and Education at Temple. She was previously the Director of Legal Initiatives at the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University. She has also authored numerous peer-reviewed and law review journal articles and a book, Food Law for Public Health, published by Oxford University Press in 2016.
Professor Pomeranz leads the Public Health Policy Research Lab and regularly teaches Public Health Law and Food Policy for Public Health.
"Policy is so important because it is the most effective way to influence public health. I got into public health to change the world -- to improve health and address inequities.”
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Education
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BA, History, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MIJD, Juris Doctorate, Cornell Law School, Ithaca, NYMPH, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA
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Areas of research and study
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Diet-related diseaseProducts that cause harmPublic Health LawPublic Health PolicySocial injustices that create health disparities
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Publications
Publications
Food Ingredients, State Actions, and Federal Preemption
AbstractPomeranz, J. L., Pomeranz, J. L., Broad Leib, E. M., & Mozaffarian, D. (n.d.).Publication year
2026Journal title
JAMAVolume
335Issue
10Page(s)
843-844Abstract~Pomeranz JL, Broad Leib EM, Mozaffarian D. Food Ingredients, State Actions, and Federal Preemption. JAMA. 2026;335(10):843-844.
AbstractPomeranz, J. L. (n.d.).Publication year
2026Journal title
JAMAAbstract~Pomeranz JL, Mozaffarian D. State Actions to Define Ultraprocessed Food for Policy—Opportunities and Challenges. JAMA Health Forum. Online ahead of pring April 8, 2026.
AbstractPomeranz, J. L. (n.d.).Publication year
2026Journal title
JAMA Health ForumAbstract~Regulating Direct-to-Consumer Prescription Drug Advertising in the United States
AbstractPomeranz, J. L., Pomeranz, J. L., Hanson, E., & Mozaffarian, D. (n.d.).Publication year
2026Journal title
The Milbank quarterlyVolume
104Issue
1Page(s)
13-47AbstractPolicy Points The United States is an outlier in its permissive regulatory landscape for direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising of prescription drugs. The First Amendment is a barrier to banning DTC prescription drug promotion, but it is not a barrier to addressing false, deceptive, or unfair advertising, which may include forms of influencer and social media promotion. The learned intermediary doctrine shields drug manufacturers from liability in most states, even when they engage in pervasive DTC advertising that leads to consumer misunderstanding. State courts and legislatures should reconsider this doctrine to ensure that consumers are adequately protected. The US Food and Drug Administration needs increased resources and additional authority over the promotion of compounded drugs.Advancing FDA’s Human Food Program Through Additional Authorities and User Fees
AbstractPomeranz, J. L., Leib, E. B., Cash, S. B., & Mozaffarian, D. (n.d.).Publication year
2025Journal title
Health AffairsAbstract~Food Compass Score vs FDA Healthy Labeling and Consumer Purchases: A Randomized Clinical Trial
AbstractPomeranz, J. L., Fan, B., Fuller, K., Sharib, J. R. R., Pomeranz, J. L., Wang, M., Wang, L., Mozaffarian, D., & Cash, S. B. (n.d.).Publication year
2025Journal title
JAMA network openVolume
8Issue
12Page(s)
e2546526AbstractThe US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has finalized a new front-of-package binary healthy label for packaged foods. Effects of this governmental label compared with a more holistic food rating score on consumer purchases are unknown.Healthy Food at Retail: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Cuts or Food Quality
AbstractPomeranz, J. L., & Pomeranz, J. L. (n.d.).Publication year
2025Journal title
American journal of public healthVolume
115Issue
10Page(s)
1561-1563Abstract~Pomeranz JL, Broad Leib EM, Cash SB, Mozaffarian D. Advancing FDA’s Human Food Program Through Additional Authorities and User Fees. Health Aff (Millwood). 2025;44(4):458-466
AbstractPomeranz, J. L. (n.d.).Publication year
2025Journal title
Health AffairsAbstractChosen for Special Issue on Food, Nutrition, And Health.Pomeranz JL, Mozaffarian D. US federal and state actions can improve food ingredient safety. Nat Food. 2025;6(7):641-644.
AbstractPomeranz, J. L. (n.d.).Publication year
2025Journal title
Nature FoodAbstract~Pomeranz JL. Do Data Still Matter in Gun Rights States? Review of What We’ve Become: Living and Dying in a Country of Arms. Am J Public Health. 2025;115(7), pp. 968–970. (invited book review).
AbstractPomeranz, J. L. (n.d.).Publication year
2025Journal title
Am J Public HealthAbstract~Population, demographic and socioeconomic characteristics associated with state preemption laws in the United States, 2009-2018
AbstractPomeranz, J. L., Pagán, J. A., Silver, D., Akiya, K., & Pomeranz, J. L. (n.d.).Publication year
2025Journal title
PloS oneVolume
20Issue
4Page(s)
e0321184AbstractIn the United States, preemption laws enacted by state governments can remove local government authority to enact policy and undermine community self-determination and local democracy. No study to date has evaluated the population, demographic, and socioeconomic characteristics associated with state preemption of public health policies. Our study identifies state characteristics associated with preemption of local paid sick leave, food and nutrition, tobacco control, and firearm safety policies.Population, demographic and socioeconomic characteristics associated with state preemption laws in the United States, 2009-2018
AbstractPagán, J. A., Silver, D. R., Akiya, K., & Pomeranz, J. L. (n.d.).Publication year
2025Journal title
PloS oneVolume
20Issue
4 APRILAbstractObjective In the United States, preemption laws enacted by state governments can remove local government authority to enact policy and undermine community self-determination and local democracy. No study to date has evaluated the population, demographic, and socioeconomic characteristics associated with state preemption of public health policies. Our study identifies state characteristics associated with preemption of local paid sick leave, food and nutrition, tobacco control, and firearm safety policies. Methods We conducted a Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analysis using state-level demographic, socioeconomic, and population health indicators from 2009 to 2018 to predict state ceiling preemption of local paid sick leave, food and nutrition, tobacco control, and firearm safety policies. Results Several demographic, economic, political, and health factors best distinguish states with and without preemption in each of the four domains. Total state population was an important characteristic in all four trees and the non-Hispanic Black population was important in three trees. All other age- and race/ethnicity-related demographic variables included were important characteristics in at least one tree. Additionally, adult obesity and flu vaccination were relevant in the paid sick leave tree and firearm-deaths, suicide-deaths, and the unemployment rate were relevant in the firearm safety tree. The relationship between specific factors and preemption in each of the four domains varied depending on the location of the factor within the trees. Conclusions and relevance Specific population, demographic and economic characteristics in a state are associated with the adoption of ceiling preemption of paid sick, food and nutrition, tobacco, and firearm safety laws, but these characteristics vary by domain. Our study identified which populations within groups of states may be affected by preemption. The findings can inform whether preemption laws considered or adopted in a state may also require protective measures for population groups that could be adversely affected by these laws.US federal and state actions can improve food ingredient safety
AbstractPomeranz, J. L., Pomeranz, J. L., & Mozaffarian, D. (n.d.).Publication year
2025Journal title
Nature foodVolume
6Issue
7Page(s)
641-644Abstract~Beyond Laws : Governors’ Roles in Shaping State Firearm Environments, 2020–2022
AbstractSilver, D. R., Pomeranz, J. L., Holm, J., & Doki, M. (n.d.).Publication year
2024Journal title
American journal of preventive medicineAbstract~Beyond Laws: Governors' Roles in Shaping State Firearm Environments, 2020-2022
AbstractPomeranz, J. L., Silver, D., Pomeranz, J. L., Holm, J., & Doki, M. (n.d.).Publication year
2024Journal title
American journal of preventive medicineVolume
66Issue
4Page(s)
744-749Abstract~Current US Policies for the Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and Competitive Foods.
AbstractPomeranz, J. L. (n.d.).Publication year
2024Abstract~Disclosure of mandatory and voluntary nutrition labelling information across major online food retailers in the USA
AbstractPomeranz, J. L., Sharib, J. R. R., Pomeranz, J. L., Mozaffarian, D., & Cash, S. B. (n.d.).Publication year
2024Journal title
Public health nutritionVolume
27Issue
1Page(s)
e203AbstractNutrition labelling is mandatory on food products in retail stores, but compliance in the rapidly expanding online setting remains unclear. We assessed mandatory and voluntary labelling information across major U.S. online retailers.Disclosure of mandatory and voluntary nutrition labelling information across major online food retailers in the USA
AbstractSharib, J. R., Pomeranz, J. L., Mozaffarian, D., & Cash, S. B. (n.d.).Publication year
2024Journal title
Public Health NutritionVolume
27Issue
1AbstractObjective: Nutrition labelling is mandatory on food products in retail stores, but compliance in the rapidly expanding online setting remains unclear. We assessed mandatory and voluntary labelling information across major U.S. online retailers. Design: Between January and August 2022, we evaluated a representative basket of sixty food and beverage items across eight product categories of ten major retailers. We evaluated online presence, accessibility and legibility of four mandatory elements – Nutrition Facts, ingredients, allergen statements and percent juice for fruit drinks – and presence of seven voluntary elements – nutrient content claims, health/qualified health claims, ingredient claims, structure–function claims, additive claims, front-of-package nutrient profiling symbols and other marketing claims. Setting: Major online food retailers in the USA. Participants: N/A. Results: On average, each mandatory element was present, accessible and legible for only 35·1 % of items, varying modestly by element (from 38·3 % for ingredients lists to 31·5 % for Nutrition Facts) but widely by retailer (6·6–86·3 %). Voluntary elements were present for 45·8 % of items, ranging from 83·7 % for marketing claims to 2·0 % for structure–function claims. Findings were generally consistent across the eight product categories. Voluntary elements were more frequently present than accessible and legible mandatory elements for six of ten retailers and seven of eight product categories. Conclusions: Mandatory nutrition label elements are not commonly present, accessible and legible in online retail settings and are less consistently present than marketing elements. Coordinated industry and regulatory actions may be needed to ensure consumers can access mandatory nutrition information to make healthy and safe food choices online.Population, Demographic and Socioeconomic Characteristics Associated with State Preemption Laws across States, 2009-2018
AbstractPagain, J., Pagain, J., Pagain, J., Pagain, J., Pagain, J., Pagain, J., Pagain, J., Pagain, J., Pagain, J., Silver, D., Silver, D., Silver, D., Silver, D., Silver, D., Silver, D., Silver, D., Silver, D., Silver, D., Akiya, K., … Pomeranz, J. L. (n.d.).Publication year
2024Abstract~Regulation of Added Substances in the Food Supply by the Food and Drug Administration Human Foods Program
AbstractPomeranz, J. L., Broad Leib, E. M., & Mozaffarian, D. (n.d.).Publication year
2024Journal title
American journal of public healthVolume
114Issue
10Page(s)
1061-1070AbstractThe US food supply is increasingly associated with diet-related diseases, toxicity, cancer, and other health harms. These public health concerns are partly attributable to a loophole in federal law. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) evaluates the premarket safety of ingredients regulated as food additives but allows the food industry to self-regulate and determine which substances to classify as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) based on undisclosed data and conclusions that the FDA never sees. Furthermore, the FDA lacks a formal approach for reviewing food additives and GRAS substances already found in the food supply. Substances in the food supply thus include innocuous ingredients (e.g., black pepper), those that are harmful at high levels (e.g., salt), those that are of questionable safety (e.g., potassium bromate), and those that are unknown to the FDA and the public. A recent court decision codified these gaps in the FDA’s current approach, leaving states to try to fill the regulatory void. The FDA and Congress should consider several policy options to ensure that the FDA is meeting its mission to ensure a safe food supply.The Entrenched Erosion of Meaningful Participation in US Elections
AbstractPomeranz, J. L., & Pomeranz, J. L. (n.d.).Publication year
2024Journal title
American journal of public healthVolume
114Issue
3Page(s)
294-296Abstract~Availability of calorie information on online menus from chain restaurants in the USA : Current prevalence and legal landscape
AbstractGreenthal, E., Sorscher, S., Pomeranz, J. L., & Cash, S. B. (n.d.).Publication year
2023Journal title
Public Health NutritionAbstractObjective: Federal law requires calorie information on chain restaurant menus. We sought to assess the prevalence of calorie disclosures on online menus and determine if the menus are controlled by restaurants subject to US labelling requirements. Design: Cross-sectional Setting: Restaurant websites and mobile apps for restaurant located in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston Participants: US chain restaurants (top seventy-five by number of outlets) and third-party platforms (TPP): Grubhub, Uber Eats, DoorDash Results: There was at least one calorie disclosure (for at least one food or beverage, in at least one location) on sixty-eight of seventy-two (94 %) menus on restaurant websites or apps, thirty-two of fifty-five (58 %) menus on DoorDash, six of forty-nine (12 %) menus on Grubhub and thirty of fifty-nine (51 %) menus on Uber Eats. There was consistent calorie labelling (all foods and beverages, all locations) on forty-three of seventy-two (60 %) menus on restaurant websites or apps, fifteen of fifty-five (27 %) menus on DoorDash, three of forty-nine (6 %) menus on Grubhub and eleven of fifty-nine (19 %) menus on Uber Eats. Only four restaurant chains consistently labelled calories for all items, in all locations, on all platforms where their menus were found. All three TPP provided restaurants the ability to enter and modify menu items, making the menus subject to US labelling requirements. Only Uber Eats provided guidance to restaurants on entering calorie information. Conclusions: As consumers increasingly rely on TPP for restaurant ordering, menus on these platforms should include calories in order to promote transparency and nutrition.Availability of calorie information on online menus from chain restaurants in the USA: current prevalence and legal landscape
AbstractPomeranz, J. L., Greenthal, E., Sorscher, S., Pomeranz, J. L., & Cash, S. B. (n.d.).Publication year
2023Journal title
Public health nutritionVolume
26Issue
12Page(s)
3239-3246AbstractFederal law requires calorie information on chain restaurant menus. We sought to assess the prevalence of calorie disclosures on online menus and determine if the menus are controlled by restaurants subject to US labelling requirements.Effects of a front-of-package disclosure on accuracy in assessing children's drink ingredients : two randomised controlled experiments with US caregivers of young children
AbstractFleming-Milici, F., Gershman, H., Pomeranz, J. L., & Harris, J. L. (n.d.).Publication year
2023Journal title
Public Health NutritionAbstractObjective: Test effects of a standardised front-of-package (FOP) disclosure statement (indicating added sugar, non-nutritive sweetener (NNS) and juice content) on accuracy in assessing ingredients and perceived healthfulness of children's drinks. Design: In two randomised controlled experiments, the same participants viewed drink packages and indicated if products contained added sugar or NNS and percent juice and rated drink healthfulness. Experiment 1 (E1) included novel (non-US) children's drinks with a) product claims only (control), b) claims and disclosure, or c) disclosure only. Experiment 2 (E2) included existing children's drinks (with claims) with a) no disclosure (control) or b) disclosure. Both experiments evaluated sweetened (fruit drink and flavoured water) and unsweetened (100 % juice and juice/water blend) drinks. Potential individual differences (education level and race/ethnicity) in effects were explored. Setting: Online survey Participants: Six hundred and forty-eight US caregivers of young children (1-5 years) Results: FOP disclosures significantly increased accuracy for most ingredients and drink types, including identifying presence or absence of NNS in sweetened drinks, no added sugar in juice/water blends, and actual percent juice in fruit drinks and juice/water blends in both experiments. Disclosures also increased recognition that the novel 100 % juice and juice/water blend did not contain NNS or added sugar (E1) and existing sweetened drinks contained added sugar (E2). Disclosures reduced perceived healthfulness of sweetened drinks but did not increase unsweetened drink healthfulness ratings. Some differences by participant socio-demographic characteristics require additional research. Conclusions: FOP disclosures on children's drink packages can increase caregivers' understanding of product ingredients and aid in selecting healthier children's drinks.