Nutrition Expert Marion Nestle Calls for Overhaul of U.S. Food Policy
Renowned food policy expert Marion Nestle is calling for structural change within the U.S. food system, criticizing the political and economic landscape that she says favors corporate profits over public health. Speaking at Penn State University, the acclaimed author and professor emerita outlined the urgent need for reform in how food is produced, regulated, and marketed.
Nestle pointed to the enormous influence of major food and beverage corporations on government policy, claiming these entities play a significant role in shaping dietary guidelines, agricultural subsidies, and food labeling standards. “The system is not broken,” she stated. “It works very well — just not for consumers. It works brilliantly for multinational food companies.”
The FMCG sector, particularly in packaged foods and beverages, is at the core of Nestle’s critique. She argues that the industry’s lobbying efforts have led to federal nutrition guidelines that are often watered down or deliberately ambiguous. Initiatives meant to address public health concerns — such as obesity, diet-related diseases, and food insecurity — are continually undermined by industry influence, according to Nestle.
She also emphasized how marketing strategies disproportionately target vulnerable populations, including children and low-income communities, exacerbating health disparities. Nestle highlighted the ongoing conflicts of interest when food companies sponsor public health organizations, a practice she sees as compromising consumer trust and undermining health advocacy.
For FMCG professionals, Nestle’s remarks underscore a growing public and regulatory scrutiny of corporate responsibility in the food system. With traceability, transparency, and health-driven innovation becoming increasingly important to consumers, brands that fail to align with these expectations may face reputational and regulatory risks.
As Nestle called on students and industry stakeholders alike to engage in food advocacy and push for science-informed policy reform, the implications for product development, labeling, and marketing are significant. From reformulating products for nutritional transparency to rethinking demographic targeting, FMCG companies have much to consider in an evolving landscape shaped by consumer awareness and political critique.
Marion Nestle’s message to the industry was clear: meaningful change will require a fundamental shift in priorities—from maximizing shareholder value to prioritizing public health outcomes.