Marion Nestle

Marion Nestle is the premiere food studies professional in the United States. She unequivocally transformed the field when, in 1988, she took over the Department of Home Economics and Nutrition at New York University, and soon turned it into a ground-breaking academic program in nutrition, food studies, and public health.

Her path traces a childhood without much parental encouragement, academic successes and multiple degrees, a pre-second wave feminism early career filled with the common restrictions and frustrations women then faced, and an adulthood at the highest rank of academic and personal achievement.

A much sought-after speaker with particular interests in food politics, food marketing, and nutrition, she has written five books, and balances a schedule that includes teaching; research and writing; speaking; and an active highly-read blog (www.foodpolitics.com).

This interview covers her early life and education; her two marriages; the challenges of balancing motherhood and a career; the responsibilities and challenges she faced writing the 1988 Surgeon General's Report on Nutrition and Health; her books; her years at New York University; and the development of the University's Food Studies Department.

People:
Bentley, Amy, 1962-
Berg, Jennifer
Brody, Jane E.
Burros, Marian Fox
Gussow, Joan Dye
Koop, C. Everett (Charles Everett), 1916-
Lee, Philip R.
McGinnis, Michael
Nestle , Marion
Petrick, Gabriella M.
Pollan, Michael
Ray, Krishnendu
Taylor, Marvin J.
Wolf, Clark

Organizations:
American Dietetic Association
Brandeis University
Dames d'Escoffier of New York
Fales Library
Monsanto Agricultural Company
New York Times
New York University
Newsweek
United States. Dept. of Health and Human Services
United States. Dept. of Agriculture
University of California, Berkeley
University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco

Subjects:
Agricultural processing industry
Agriculture and state
Authorship
Children -- Nutrition
Diet
Editing
Farm produce -- Marketing -- Government policy
Feminism
Food adulteration and inspection
Food industry and trade
Food security
Junk food
Health
Nutrition
Pet food industry
Public health
Sex roles
Urban agriculture
Women in higher education