Dr. Marion Nestle, PhD, MPH

Marion Nestle, PhD, MPH, is a food policy scholar and public health nutritionist affiliated with New York University Steinhardt School in New York, New York, specialising in food policy, food politics and public health nutrition. Dr. Marion Nestle holds the post of Paulette Goddard Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health, Emerita.

She retired from New York University in September 2017 and holds the title of Professor Emerita, having chaired the department from 1988 to 2003. She is a recipient of the James Beard Literary Award for Food Politics.

A nutrition scientist investigates what food does in the body and in populations, and publishes findings for scrutiny by other researchers. Dr. Marion Nestle works in the area of food policy, food politics and public health nutrition.

Quick Reference For Dr. Marion Nestle

• Full Name And Credentials: Marion Nestle, PhD, MPH
• Profession: Food policy scholar and public health nutritionist
• Field Of Focus: Food policy, food politics and public health nutrition
• Current Position: Paulette Goddard Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health, Emerita
• Institution: New York University Steinhardt School
• Location: New York, New York
• Sees Patients: No, this specialist works in research and education
• Previous Appointments: Retired from New York University in September 2017 and holds the title of Professor Emerita, having chaired the department from 1988 to 2003

Training Pathway Of Dr. Marion Nestle

The qualifications below are drawn from the institutional, professional body and publisher sources listed at the end of this profile.

• Doctorate: PhD in molecular biology, University of California, Berkeley
• Graduate Degree: MPH in public health nutrition, University of California, Berkeley
• Earlier Appointments: Faculty in biology at Brandeis University, then Associate Dean of the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine from 1976 to 1986

Dr. Marion Nestle Subspecialty Expertise

Published professional sources describe the work of Dr. Marion Nestle as centred on:

• Food industry influence on nutrition science and policy
• Ultra-processed foods and public health
• Food marketing to children
• Dietary guidelines and government nutrition advice
• Food safety policy and regulation

Leadership Positions Held By Dr. Marion Nestle

• Paulette Goddard Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health, Emerita, New York University
• Chaired the NYU Department of Nutrition and Food Studies from 1988 to 2003 and founded its food studies programme in 1996
• Visiting Professor of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University
• Editor of The Surgeon General’s Report on Nutrition and Health
• Author, co-author or co-editor of fifteen books, including Food Politics, Safe Food, What to Eat, Soda Politics and Unsavory Truth
• Writes the long running food policy commentary at foodpolitics.com

Distinctions Held By Dr. Marion Nestle

• James Beard Literary Award for Food Politics
• Association of American Publishers Award for Public Health
• Fellow of the American Society for Nutritional Sciences, 2005
• Food Policy Changemaker Award
• Honorary degrees from Transylvania University and the City University of New York
• Daniel E. Griffiths Research Award, NYU Steinhardt School, 2004

Dr. Marion Nestle Institutional Affiliation

New York University Steinhardt School

New York, New York. This is an academic and research base rather than a patient clinic. Enquiries about research, teaching or media are handled by the institution rather than by this directory.

Understanding Food Policy And Nutrition Politics

Food policy and public health nutrition look beyond the individual plate to the system that fills it: how food is produced, priced, marketed, labelled and regulated. Work in this area has shaped front of pack labels, restrictions on marketing to children, reformulation targets and school food standards. It also studies the rising share of diets made up of ultra processed products, and what that displacement of traditional foods means for health.

Related Food Policy And Nutrition Politics Specialists

If you are comparing specialists, these profiles cover closely related areas of nutrition:

• Dr. Carlos Monteiro, ultra processed food research at School of Public Health, University of Sao Paulo
• Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, food as medicine and nutrition policy at Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy and Tufts Medical Center
• Dr. Mathilde Touvier, nutritional epidemiology at INSERM, the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research, and the Centre of Research in Epidemiology and Statistics
• Dr. Walter Willett, nutritional epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School

Browse the full dietitian and nutritionist directory for more specialists.

Getting In Touch With Dr. Marion Nestle

This specialist does not offer individual consultations. Dr. Marion Nestle works in research, teaching and public health nutrition. Research, teaching and media enquiries go to New York University Steinhardt School directly. For personal dietary advice, see a dietitian or nutritionist registered in your own country, or use the enquiry button on this page and we will point you towards a practising specialist in the directory.

Key Questions About Dr. Marion Nestle

Does Dr. Marion Nestle see patients?

No. Dr. Marion Nestle works in research, teaching and public health rather than individual consultations, and does not offer private appointments. For one to one dietary advice, see a registered dietitian or nutritionist licensed in your own country.

What did Dr. Marion Nestle study?

PhD in molecular biology, University of California, Berkeley. Full training details appear in the education section above.

What are the qualifications of Dr. Marion Nestle?

Marion Nestle, PhD, MPH. Full credentials are listed above.

What position does Dr. Marion Nestle hold?

Dr. Marion Nestle is Paulette Goddard Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health, Emerita, based at New York University Steinhardt School.

What is Food Policy And Nutrition Politics?

Food Policy And Nutrition Politics is the area of nutrition science concerned with food policy, food politics and public health nutrition. Specialists working in it, including Dr. Marion Nestle, study how diet relates to health and translate those findings into guidance.

Has Dr. Marion Nestle received professional recognition?

Yes. James Beard Literary Award for Food Politics. Further awards and distinctions are listed above.

Information Sources For Dr. Marion Nestle

• New York University Steinhardt faculty profile
• Food Politics, the author’s own commentary site
• NYU Department of Nutrition and Food Studies

Profile Verification And Review Date For Dr. Marion Nestle

This profile was compiled from the public professional sources listed above, including university faculty pages, professional register and society records, journal author statements and publisher biographies. Qualifications, appointments and awards were checked against at least two independent sources where available. Last reviewed on 30 October 2026.

Update note: Retired from New York University in September 2017 and holds the title of Professor Emerita, having chaired the department from 1988 to 2003.

Found something out of date? Contact the Find MD Health editorial team and we will review the entry.

Important Disclaimer About Dr. Marion Nestle

Information only, not medical or dietary advice, and not a listing for appointments. For individual guidance, see a registered dietitian or your own doctor.