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
Consumer confusion about wholegrain content and healthfulness in product labels : A discrete choice experiment and comprehension assessment
AbstractWilde, P., Pomeranz, J. L., Lizewski, L. J., & Zhang, F. F. (n.d.).Publication year
2020Journal title
Public Health NutritionVolume
23Issue
18Page(s)
3324-3331AbstractObjective: Using a legal standard for scrutinising the regulation of food label claims, this study assessed whether consumers are misled about wholegrain (WG) content and product healthfulness based on common product labels. Design: First, a discrete choice experiment used pairs of hypothetical products with different amounts of WG, sugar and salt to measure effects on assessment of healthfulness; and second, a WG content comprehension assessment used actual product labels to assess respondent understanding. Setting: Online national panel survey. Participants: For a representative sample of US adults (n 1030), survey responses were collected in 2018 and analysed in 2019. Results: First, 29-47 % of respondents incorrectly identified the healthier product from paired options, and respondents who self-identified as having difficulty in understanding labels were more likely to err. Second, for actual products composed primarily of refined grains, 43-51 % of respondents overstated the WG content, whereas for one product composed primarily of WG, 17 % of respondents understated the WG content. Conclusions: The frequency of consumer misunderstanding of grain product labels was high in both study components. Potential policies to address consumer confusion include requiring disclosure of WG content as a percentage of total grain content or requiring disclosure of the grams of WG v. refined grains per serving.Consumer confusion about wholegrain content and healthfulness in product labels : Reply
AbstractWilde, P., Pomeranz, J. L., Lizewski, L. J., & Zhang, F. F. (n.d.).Publication year
2020Journal title
Public Health NutritionVolume
23Issue
18Page(s)
3334-3335Abstract~Cost-effectiveness Analysis of Nutrition Facts Added-Sugar Labeling and Obesity-Associated Cancer Rates in the US
AbstractThe Food-PRICE Project, A., Du, M., Griecci, C. F., Cudhea, F. F., Eom, H., Kim, D. D., Wilde, P., Wong, J. B., Wang, Y. C., Michaud, D. S., Mozaffarian, D., Zhang, F., Greenwald, R., Micha, R., Leib, E. B., Cash, S. B., Downer, S., Pomeranz, J. L., Gaziano, T. A., … Lee, Y. (n.d.).Publication year
2021Journal title
JAMA network openVolume
4Issue
4Page(s)
E217501AbstractIMPORTANCE Obesity-associated cancer burdens are increasing in the US. Nutrition policies, such as the Nutrition Facts added-sugar labeling, may reduce obesity-associated cancer rates. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of Nutrition Facts added-sugar labeling and obesity-associated cancer rates in the US. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS A probabilistic cohort state-transition model was used to conduct an economic evaluation of added-sugar labeling and 13 obesity-associated cancers among 235 million adults aged 20 years or older by age, sex, and race/ethnicity over a median follow-up of 34.4 years. Policy associations were considered in 2 scenarios: with consumer behaviors and with additional industry reformulation. The model integrated nationally representative population demographics, diet, and cancer statistics; associations of policy intervention with diet, diet change and body mass index, and body mass index with cancer risk; and policy and health-related costs from established sources. Data were analyzed from January 8, 2019, to May 6, 2020. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Net costs and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio were estimated from societal and health care perspectives. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses incorporated uncertainty in input parameters and generated 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs). RESULTS Based on consumer behaviors, the policy was associated with a reduction of 30 000 (95% UI, 21 600-39 300) new cancer cases and 17 100 (95% UI, 12 400-22 700) cancer deaths, a gain of 116 000 (95% UI, 83 800-153 000) quality-adjusted life-years, and a saving of $1600 million (95% UI, $1190 million-$2030 million) in medical costs associated with cancer care among US adults over a lifetime. The policy was associated with a savings of $704 million (95% UI, $44.5 million-$1450 million) from the societal perspective and $1590 million (95% UI, $1180 million-$2020 million) from the health care perspective. Additional industry reformulation to reduce added-sugar amounts in packaged foods and beverages would double the impact. Greater health gains and cost savings were expected among young adults, women, and non-Hispanic Black individuals than other population subgroups. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE These findings suggest that the added-sugar labeling is associated with reduced costs and lower rates of obesity-associated cancers. Policymakers may consider and prioritize nutrition policies for cancer prevention in the US.Current US Policies for the Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes and Competitive Foods.
AbstractPomeranz, J. L. (n.d.).Publication year
2024Abstract~Defining Commercial Speech in the Context of Food Marketing
AbstractPomeranz, J. L., & Adler, S. (n.d.).Publication year
2015Journal title
Journal of Law, Medicine and EthicsVolume
43Issue
s1Page(s)
40-43AbstractThe regulation of food marketing is a strategy to address obesity. Marketers engage in both commercial speech, which receives some First Amendment protection, and non-speech activities that fall outside of the First Amendment's realm; no marketing practice constitutes fully protected speech. We explore these distinctions in the public health context.Disclosure of mandatory and voluntary nutrition labeling information across major online food retailers in the United States
AbstractReedy, J., Cash, S. B., Pomeranz, J. L., & Mozaffarian, D. (n.d.).Publication year
2024Abstract~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.Effect of reducing ultraprocessed food consumption on obesity among US children and adolescents aged 7-18 years : Evidence from a simulation model
AbstractLivingston, A. S., Cudhea, F., Wang, L., Steele, E. M., Du, M., Wang, Y. C., Pomeranz, J. L., Mozaffarian, D., & Zhang, F. F. (n.d.).Publication year
2021Journal title
BMJ Nutrition, Prevention and HealthVolume
4Issue
2Page(s)
397-404AbstractBackground Children and adolescents in the USA consume large amounts of daily calories from ultraprocessed foods (UPFs). Recent evidence links UPF consumption to increased body fat in youth. We aimed to estimate the potential impact of reducing UPF consumption on childhood obesity rate in the USA. Methods We developed a microsimulation model to project the effect of reducing UPF consumption in children's diet on reducing the prevalence of overweight or obesity among US youth. The model incorporated nationally representative data on body mass index (BMI) percentile and dietary intake of 5804 children and adolescents aged 7-18 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2016, and the effect of reducing UPF consumption on calorie intake from a recent randomised controlled trial. Uncertainties of model inputs were incorporated using probabilistic sensitivity analysis with 1000 simulations. Results Reducing UPFs in children's diet was estimated to result in a median of -2.09 kg/m 2 (95% uncertainty interval -3.21 to -0.80) reduction in BMI among children and adolescents aged 7-18 years. The median prevalence of overweight (BMI percentile ≥85th) and obesity (BMI percentile ≥95th percentile) was reduced from 37.0% (35.9%, 38.1%) to 20.9% (15.1%, 29.9%) and from 20.1% (19.2%, 21.0%) to 11.0% (7.86%, 15.8%), respectively. Larger BMI and weight reductions were seen among boys than girls, adolescents than children, non-Hispanic black and Hispanic youth than non-Hispanic white youth, and those with lower levels of parental education and family income. Conclusions Reducing UPF consumption in children's diet has the potential to substantially reduce childhood obesity rate among children and adolescents in the USA.Effective National Menu Labeling Requires Accuracy and Enforcement
AbstractHuang, Y., Pomeranz, J. L., & Cash, S. B. (n.d.).Publication year
2018Journal title
Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and DieteticsVolume
118Issue
6Page(s)
989-993Abstract~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.Energy drinks : An emerging public health hazard for youth
AbstractPomeranz, J. L., Munsell, C. R., & Harris, J. L. (n.d.).Publication year
2013Journal title
Journal of Public Health PolicyVolume
34Issue
2Page(s)
254-271AbstractEnergy drinks are emerging as a public health threat and are increasingly consumed by youth internationally. Energy drinks contain high levels of caffeine, sugar, and novel ingredients, and are often marketed through youth-oriented media and venues. We review these practices and the current inconsistent state of labeling. We also examine international support for regulation of these products, including a survey showing that 85 per cent of United States parents agreed that regulations requiring caffeine content disclosure and warning labels on energy drinks are warranted. We then examine the regulatory structure for energy drinks in the United States, analyzing legal and self-regulatory strategies to protect consumers, especially youth, from these potentially dangerous products. Recommended government interventions include revised labeling requirements, addressing problematic ingredients, and enacting retail restrictions. We conclude by identifying areas for future research.Extending the fantasy in the supermarket: where unhealthy food promotions meet children and how the government can intervene
AbstractPomeranz, J. L. (n.d.).Publication year
2012Journal title
Indiana Health Law ReviewPage(s)
117-185Abstract~Federal Paid Sick Leave Is Needed to Support Prevention and Public Health and Address Inequities
AbstractPomeranz, J. L., Pagán, J. A., & Silver, D. R. (n.d.).Publication year
2022Journal title
American journal of preventive medicineVolume
63Issue
2Page(s)
e75Abstract~Federal Regulation of Infant and Toddler Food and Drink Marketing and Labeling
AbstractPomeranz, J. L., & Harris, J. L. (n.d.).Publication year
2019Journal title
American journal of law & medicineVolume
45Issue
1Page(s)
32-56Abstract~Federal Trade Commission's authority to regulate marketing to children : deceptive vs. unfair rulemaking.
AbstractPomeranz, J. L. (n.d.).Publication year
2011Journal title
Health matrix (Cleveland, Ohio : 1991)Volume
21Issue
2Page(s)
521-553AbstractFood and beverage marketing directed at children is of increasing concern to the public health and legal communities. The new administration at the Federal Trade Commission and abundant science on the topic make it a particularly opportune time for the government to reconsider regulating marketing directed at youth. This Article analyzes the Commission's authority to regulate food and beverage marketing directed at children under its jurisdiction over unfair and deceptive acts and practices to determine which avenue is most viable. The author finds that the Federal Trade Commission has the authority to regulate deceptive marketing practices directed at vulnerable populations. Although the Commission can issue individual orders, its remedial power to initiate rules would better address the pervasiveness of modern marketing practices. The Commission does not currently have the power to regulate unfair marketing to children; however, even if Congress reinstated this authority, the Commission's authority over deceptive marketing may be preferable to regulate these practices. Deceptive communications are not protected by the First Amendment and the deceptive standard matches the science associated with marketing to children. The Federal Trade Commission has the authority to initiate rulemaking in the realm of food and beverage marketing to children as deceptive communications in interstate commerce, in violation of the Federal Trade Commission Act. However, to effectuate this process, Congress would need to grant the Commission the authority to do so under the Administrative Procedures Act.Firearm Extreme Risk Protection Order Laws and Preemption : New Developments and Outstanding Issues, 50 States, 2020
AbstractPomeranz, J. L., & Ochoa, G. (n.d.).Publication year
2021Journal title
American journal of preventive medicineVolume
61Issue
3Page(s)
455-460Abstract~Firearm industry groups are using COVID-19 to expand gun rights
AbstractPomeranz, J. L. (n.d.).Publication year
2020Journal title
Journal of Public Health Management and PracticeVolume
26Issue
4Page(s)
320-321Abstract~Firearm Laws Enacted by Municipalities in 6 States With Diverse Policy Frameworks
AbstractPomeranz, J. L., Silver, D. R., Lieff, S. A., & McNeill, E. (n.d.).Publication year
2023Journal title
American journal of preventive medicineAbstractIntroduction: Firearm violence is a public health crisis. Municipalities are frequently prevented from adopting firearm-related laws because of state preemption―when the state limits local authority to enact laws on a specific topic. Yet, it is unknown the extent to which municipalities enact firearm-related laws under varying preemption regimes, the content of such laws, and how municipal laws relate to the state's firearm-policy framework. Methods: A purposeful sample of 6 states with diverse preemption laws were chosen; 3 with robust preemption: South Carolina, Maryland, and Arizona; 1 with moderate preemption: Nebraska; and 2 without preemption: Connecticut and New York. Using Lexis+, municipal codes as of December 31, 2020 were identified, and the policy topics were evaluated and compared with the state's policy framework. Counties representing the municipalities identified were characterized using public use data. Results: In total, 613 municipal policies were identified, covering 56 topics. The number of policy topics enacted by at least 1 municipality in the state included 18 for Arizona, 21 for Connecticut, 24 for Maryland, 25 for Nebraska, 40 for New York, and 28 for South Carolina. The most common policy identified was restricting public discharge in community-centered locations. Local laws in preemption states replicated state requirements or were consistent with savings clauses expressly allowing local action. New York City, a municipality in a state without preemption, enacted laws covering the most policy topics of the municipalities identified. Conclusions: When not constrained by state preemption, local lawmakers actively passed firearm-related legislation. Many such laws are specific to local contexts and may reflect local lawmakers’ responsiveness to constituent concerns.Food and Beverage Product Appearances in Educational, Child-Targeted YouTube Videos
AbstractTsai, K. A., Pan, P., Liang, C., Stent-Torriani, A., Prat, L., Cassidy, O., Pomeranz, J. L., & Bragg, M. A. (n.d.).Publication year
2022Journal title
Obesity and Weight ManagementVolume
18Issue
8Page(s)
515-522AbstractBackground: Food advertisement exposure is associated with children's increased caloric intake, but little is known about food/beverage placements in child-oriented educational YouTube videos. We aimed to quantify the prevalence of food/beverages in these videos and assess their nutritional quality. Methods: Researchers identified child-oriented educational YouTube videos from 2020, using keyword searches. We coded the names of featured food/beverages, coded how the food/beverages were interacted with, quantified the number of minutes the food/beverages appeared, and assessed the nutritional quality of the food/beverages. Results: A sample of 400 videos with the highest number of views was identified, 165 of which featured food/beverages. These 165 videos were collectively viewed over 1.1 billion times. Among these videos, 108 (67.4%) featured unhealthy foods and 86 (52.1%) featured branded products. Most food/beverages were used in experiment/tutorials (n = 143, 86.7%). Of the 165 videos featuring food/beverages, 91 (55.2%) did not depict food/beverages in their video thumbnail. Conclusions: While unhealthy food/beverages appear frequently in child-oriented educational YouTube videos, parents and teachers may not be aware of the presence of branded food/beverage products in these videos that could influence their children's food and brand preferences. The Federal Trade Commission should collect data on food and beverage company sponsorship of educational videos aimed at children and adolescents.Food Marketing to - and Research on - Children : New Directions for Regulation in the United States
AbstractPomeranz, J. L., & Mozaffarian, D. (n.d.).Publication year
2022Journal title
The Journal of law, medicine & ethics : a journal of the American Society of Law, Medicine & EthicsVolume
50Issue
3Page(s)
542-550AbstractAs countries around the world work to restrict unhealthy food and beverage marketing to children, the U.S. remains reliant on industry-self regulation. The First Amendment's protection for commercial speech and previous gutting of the Federal Trade Commission's authority pose barriers to restricting food marketing to children. However, false, unfair, and deceptive acts and practices remain subject to regulation and provide an avenue to address marketing to young children, modern practices that have evaded regulation, and gaps in the food and beverage industry's self-regulatory approach.Forced Birth and No Time off Work : Abortion Access and Paid Family Leave Policies
AbstractSchnake-Mahl, A. S., Pomeranz, J. L., Sun, N., Headen, I., O'Leary, G., & Jahn, J. L. (n.d.).Publication year
2023Journal title
American journal of preventive medicineAbstract~Front-of-package food and beverage labeling : New directions for research and regulation
AbstractPomeranz, J. L. (n.d.).Publication year
2011Journal title
American journal of preventive medicineVolume
40Issue
3Page(s)
382-385Abstract~Geographic and Longitudinal Trends in Media Framing of Obesity in the United States
AbstractChiang, J., Arons, A., Pomeranz, J. L., Siddiqi, A., & Hamad, R. (n.d.).Publication year
2020Journal title
ObesityVolume
28Issue
7Page(s)
1351-1357AbstractObjective: The media’s framing of public health issues is closely linked to public opinion on these issues and support for interventions to address them. This study characterized geographic and temporal variation in the US media’s framing of obesity across states from 2006 to 2015. Methods: Newspaper articles that mentioned the term obesity were drawn from Access World News (NewsBank, Inc., Naples, Florida), a comprehensive online database (N = 364,288). This study employed automated content analysis, a machine learning technique, to categorize articles as (1) attributing obesity to individual-level causes (e.g., lifestyle behaviors), (2) attributing obesity to environmental/systemic causes (e.g., neighborhood walkability), (3) attributing obesity to both individual-level causes and environmental/systemic causes, or (4) articles without any such attribution framework. Results: Nationwide across all years, a higher proportion of articles focused on individual-level attribution of obesity than environmental-level attribution or both. Missouri and Idaho had the highest proportions of articles with an individual framework, and Nevada, Arkansas, and Wisconsin had the highest proportions of articles with an environmental framework. Conclusions: This analysis demonstrates that US media sources heavily focus on an individual framing of obesity, which may be informing public perceptions of obesity. By highlighting differences in obesity media portrayal, this study could inform research to understand why particular states represent outliers and how this may affect obesity policy making.