Despite increase in U.S. cases, worry about West Nile virus remains low

Most do not know the correct way to apply insect repellent

Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania

Facebook

X
BlueskyMessageWhatsAppEmail

 

image: 

Annenberg Public Policy Center ASAPH Survey August 2025

view more 

Credit: Annenberg Public Policy Center

West Nile virus is the leading cause of mosquito-borne illness in the continental United States. As of Sept. 23, over 1,100 human cases of West Nile disease have been reported across 42 states, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including nearly 750 cases of the more serious neuroinvasive form which affects the brain.

CDC data show the number of cases in the United States is 40% higher than normal. Experts suggest that a warming climate is lengthening the season, which typically runs through October in the U.S. So far this season, Colorado has reported 220 cases, the highest in one state.

While most people infected with the virus do not develop symptoms, it does cause symptoms in some people, ranging from a mild, flu-like illness to a more severe illness affecting the central nervous system, which can result in hospitalization and death.

Despite this season’s growing number of cases, relatively few Americans worry about becoming infected by West Nile or by dengue fever, another mosquito-borne illness, according to a survey of nearly 1,700 U.S. adults conducted August 5-18, 2025, by the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) of the University of Pennsylvania. Just 15% of respondents in the nationally representative panel report being worried that they or someone in their family will contract West Nile virus or dengue fever in the next three months. This finding is unchanged from September 2024. (Read the topline.)

“With the increasing number of West Nile virus cases and a longer mosquito season, many people need to have a greater awareness of the virus and may want to consider taking everyday precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites and control mosquitoes in and around their homes,” said Ken Winneg, APPC’s managing director of survey research.  

Highlights

The Annenberg Public Policy Center health survey conducted Aug. 5-18 finds that:

• Just 15% of U.S. adults say they are worried about contracting West Nile virus or dengue fever in the next three months.
• Most people (75%) know that one can get West Nile or dengue fever from being bitten by an infected mosquito and the best defense against these diseases is to avoid getting bitten (81%).
• Nearly half (48%) are not sure what the symptoms of West Nile virus are.
• Knowledge of the correct way to apply mosquito repellent is low – just 14% know not to put insect repellent under your clothing and 33% know to first apply sunscreen, let it dry, and then put on insect repellent.

High knowledge about transmission; fewer know symptoms

Few people (15%) are worried that they and their families will get these diseases in the next three months, and the vast majority (85%) are unworried, no change from September 2024.

The following results show what U.S. adults know about the way West Nile virus and dengue fever are transmitted, its symptoms, how to protect themselves from mosquitoes, and what type of insect repellent the CDC recommends and how one should apply it.

Transmission: Humans usually contract West Nile virus or dengue fever through the bite of an infected mosquito. Rarely is the virus spread by person-to-person contact such as blood transfusions, breast feeding, or being sneezed or coughed on.

Most adults (75%) say scientists think that people can get West Nile virus or dengue through a mosquito bite, though 1 in 10 (11%) incorrectly say that scientists think that that form of transmission is unlikely and 14% are unsure. When asked whether scientists think someone can get West Nile virus or dengue by being sneezed or coughed on by someone with those diseases, fewer than half (43%) correctly say that is unlikely, up 9 points from September 2024. Nearly 1 in 5 people (19%) incorrectly say that scientists think an infected person coughing or sneezing on someone is a means of transmission, but that has dropped significantly since September 2024, when 26% said so. About 4 in 10 (39%) say they are unsure, no change from last year. 

Treatment: There is currently no antiviral treatment for West Nile virus or dengue, but only a fifth of adults (22%) know this. Most are either unsure (61%) or believe there is an antiviral treatment (17%).

Symptoms: When presented with a list of potential symptoms of West Nile virus and asked which are symptoms of that disease, nearly half of those surveyed (48%) say they are unsure which are correct. Fever was selected by most (45%) as a symptom of the virus, followed by muscle and joint pain (41%); headache (38%); nausea and vomiting (33%); and rash (23%). Three in 10 people (31%) incorrectly chose dizziness or lightheadedness, and 12% incorrectly chose the appearance of firm, round painless sores.

Most people report taking some steps to control mosquitoes at home

The vast majority of people (81%) know the best defense against dengue fever and West Nile virus is preventing mosquito bites and controlling mosquitoes in and around their home.

Knowing this and doing something about it are two different things. Generally, 61% say they routinely take precautions to avoid getting mosquito bites, at any time of the year.

Among the group of people who say they routinely take precautions to avoid getting mosquito bites, we presented a list of specific measures asking them to indicate which ones they take. The most common measure that people choose is removing standing water (80%), followed by avoiding activities that would bring them in contact with mosquitoes (72%); wearing insect repellent (68%); replacing or repairing window screens (59%); and wearing long-sleeve or protective clothing outdoors (57%). Few (13%) say they use mosquito netting. The results are no different from September 2024.

Knowledge about how to apply mosquito repellent is low

As noted above, wearing insect repellent is one of the more common preventive measures that people report taking. But knowledge of how to properly apply mosquito repellent is relatively low, especially when dressing or applying sunscreen.

The CDC recommends that individuals do not apply insect repellent on the skin under clothing, just on exposed skin. Few people (14%) know this recommendation. Three in 10 (30%) say incorrectly that it does not matter, and about one-fifth (18%) say the CDC recommends that one apply insect repellent on the body first, then put clothing on over the areas protected by repellent. Nearly 4 in 10 (38%) say they are unsure.

When going outdoors in the day during mosquito season, it is important to apply insect repellent to prevent mosquito bites and sunscreen to protect against harmful ultraviolet rays. Just a third of adults (33%) know that the CDC recommends that one should apply sunscreen first, let it dry, then apply insect repellent. Nearly half (47%) say they are unsure, 5% incorrectly say the CDC recommends one put on the insect repellent first, followed by sunscreen, and 15% say the CDC recommends that the order of application does not matter, but that one should use both when in an area with mosquitoes, which also is incorrect.

Insect repellents can be applied to most people except babies younger than two months old. Most people know that the CDC does not recommend that insect repellent be applied to babies younger than 2 months old (54%), but 43% are not sure, and 3% believe the CDC recommends repellent for babies younger than two months.

Knowledge of how to apply insect repellent is important, but it is also important to know how to choose the safest and most effective repellent. There are many types of insect repellent available but the CDC recommends that people look for one that notes that it is EPA-registered. Only 1 in 5 (19%) adults correctly say CDC recommends using an EPA-registered repellent. A third (32%) say, incorrectly, that the CDC recommends that people look for a repellent that has over 50% of the chemical DEET. While DEET is effective as an ingredient in insect repellent, the CDC recommends using a concentration of 20-50% DEET because more than that will not usually provide extra protection against mosquito bites. The CDC does not recommend using natural repellents, though 7% of respondents believe it does and 42% are not sure.

Annenberg Science and Public Health survey

The survey data come from the 25th wave of a nationally representative panel of 1,699 U.S. adults conducted for the Annenberg Public Policy Center by SSRS, an independent market research company. Most have been empaneled since April 2021. To account for attrition, replenishment samples have been added over time using a random probability sampling design. The most recent replenishment, in September 2024, added 360 respondents to the sample. This wave of the Annenberg Science and Public Health (ASAPH) survey was fielded August 5-18, 2025. The margin of sampling error (MOE) is ± 3.5 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. All figures are rounded to the nearest whole number and may not add to 100%. Combined subcategories may not add to totals in the topline and text due to rounding.

Download the topline and the methods report.

The policy center has been tracking the American public’s knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors regarding vaccination, Covid-19, flu, RSV, and other consequential health issues through this survey panel for four years. In addition to Winneg, APPC’s ASAPH survey team includes research analysts Laura A. Gibson and Shawn Patterson Jr.; Patrick E. Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Health and Risk Communication Institute; and APPC director Kathleen Hall Jamieson.

See other recent Annenberg health survey news releases:

• Trust in health agencies and RFK Jr.: Public confidence in U.S. health agencies slides, fueled by declines among Democrats (Sept. 18, 2025)
• Vaccine mandates for school: Most Americans favor MMR vaccine requirements for public school (September 12, 2025)
• Health risks during pregnancy: Public knowledge high on smoking and alcohol risks during pregnancy (July 29, 2025)
• AI and health information: Many in U.S. consider AI-generated health information useful and reliable (July 14, 2025)
• Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS): More people need to know how to prevent SIDS, survey shows (July 1, 2025)

The Annenberg Public Policy Center was established in 1993 to educate the public and policy makers about communication’s role in advancing public understanding of political, science, and health issues at the local, state, and federal levels.

---

Method of Research

Survey

Subject of Research

People

Innovative hydrogel for soilless farming, tackling drought and pollution

The super-absorbent biopolymer material retains water and enables plants to grow even in drought conditions.

Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia - IIT

Facebook

WeChatBlueskyMessageWhatsApEmail

Genova/Bolzano (Italy), 26 September 2025 - It is a fully biodegradable and eco-friendly system for hydroponic agriculture, made of hydrogel and capable of supporting plant growth with minimal water; in the future, it will be able to monitor plant health in real time. This innovation is the result of joint research between the Faculty of Engineering at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (UniBz) and the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT-Italian Insititute of Technology) in Genoa. The invention offers a zero-waste, low-environmental-impact solution for agriculture, a sector increasingly threatened by climate change, drought, pollution, biodiversity loss, and soil degradation.

The research study has been published in the American Chemical Society (ACS)’s journal Agricultural Science & Technology and stems from a multidisciplinary project involving researchers from the Faculty of Engineering of the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano (UniBz) —Camilla Febo, researcher at IIT and UniBz, Professors Paolo Lugli and Luisa Petti of the Sensing Technologies Lab, in collaboration with Professors Tanja Mimmo and Luigimaria Borruso from the Faculty of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences at UniBz, within the framework of the Competence Centre for Plant Health— and from the Smart Materials Unit at the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) — Athanassia Athanassiou, principal investigator and Vice Scientific Director of IIT, and IIT researcher Danila Merino.

Hydrogels are materials whose internal structure is composed of a polymer network, designed to be porous and therefore very advantageous in applications where it is important to retain water or nutrients. In horticulture, they are emerging as sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based foams and pots.

At IIT’s laboratories in Genoa, researchers produced hydrogels from biopolymers, specifically carrageenan, a polysaccharide extracted from red algae and widely used for its gelling, thickening, and stabilizing properties. The resulting hydrogel is biodegradable and can be safely applied to soil without causing pollution. The team enriched the porous material with whole-algae extracts, which serve as biostimulants: substances that stimulate natural plant processes to improve nutrient efficiency, stress tolerance, and crop quality, regardless of nutrient content.

The final material has the ideal properties for use in soilless farming, such as hydroponics, and requires only minimal amounts of water. Plant tests were conducted in the laboratories in Bolzano.

The research team showed that the hydrogel can retain large amounts of water, swelling by up to 7000%, and can also support plant growth from seeds. Tests with the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana demonstrated a more vigorous growth process compared to traditional hydroponic substrates.

The South Tyrolean scientists also plan to integrate flexible, biodegradable sensors into these hydrogel scaffolds, enabling precision farming by monitoring plant health and soil conditions in real time.

“Our goal,” emphasizes Camilla Febo, researcher at UniBz/IIT, “was to develop a material that was not only biodegradable and sustainable, but that could also actively interact with plants, efficiently providing them with water and nutrients. The hydrogel we created can retain moisture and gradually release it, significantly reducing water consumption. This approach represents an important step towards more resilient and environmentally friendly agriculture.”

“At a time in history when freshwater resources are drastically diminishing and plastics are increasingly polluting the environment, at IIT we are focusing on developing smart and sustainable materials to counteract these effects through concrete solutions for key sectors such as agriculture,” states Athanassia Athanassiou, Vice Scientific Director of IIT and Head of the Smart Materials Unit. “In this work, we used exclusively natural marine resources to engineer a hydrogel that retains water and provides nutrients to plants. Materials engineering from natural resources is one of the foundational areas of the research unit I coordinate, with applications ranging from precision agriculture to packaging, water purification, green electronics, and marine biodiversity.”

“Technological innovation must go hand in hand with environmental sustainability,” comments Luisa Petti, professor and head of the Sensing Technologies Lab at UniBz. “In our laboratory, we focus on designing flexible and biodegradable electronic devices that can be integrated into smart agricultural systems. The hydrogel developed in collaboration with IIT in Genoa is a concrete example of how technology can support agriculture by improving resource efficiency and reducing environmental impact. This project demonstrates that it is possible to combine innovation and sustainability to address global challenges related to food security and climate change.”

---

Journal

ACS Agricultural Science & Technology

DOI

10.1021/acsagscitech.4c00723 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Harnessing Algal Biomass: Superabsorbent and Biostimulant Hydrogels for Seed Germination in Soilless Cultivation

 

Wealthier countries waste more food per person, but urbanization is narrowing this gap

Cell Press

BlueskyMessageWhatsAppEmail

Globally, the average person wastes around 132 kg of food per year, and this number is rising. Wealthy countries waste more food per person, but in an opinion paper publishing September 26 in the Cell Press journal Cell Reports Sustainability, agricultural economists highlight how urbanization and economic expansion are driving increases in food waste in lower- and middle-income countries. Curbing food waste will require policy and structural initiatives, they argue, such as incentivizing supermarkets and restaurants to donate food and educating consumers to promote smarter purchasing and better food storage practices. 

“If left unaddressed, rising waste in middle- and low-income countries risks locking in unsustainable consumption patterns with serious implications for food security, public health, and environmental stability,” write the authors, agricultural economists Emiliano Lopez Barrera and Dominic Vieira of Texas A&M University. 

“Proactive investments such as in cold chain infrastructure, food donation laws, and public awareness can help shape social norms before food waste becomes entrenched,” they write. “Inaction today will magnify long-term costs and increase the difficulty of future interventions.” 

Global food waste—defined as food discarded by consumers or by food service and retail establishments—rose by about 24% between 2004 and 2014. Historically, wealthy people and high-income countries wasted more food. While this is still true today, rates of food waste are becoming more similar across all countries. According to a 2024 report, annual food waste varies by only around 7 kg per person across high-, upper-middle-, and lower-middle-income countries.  

The authors say that this convergence is driven by rising food waste in middle-income countries such as China, India, and Brazil that are undergoing rapid economic growth and urbanization. Urbanization increases food waste by changing people’s shopping and consumption habits. For example, access to supermarkets and refrigeration encourages people to buy more perishable food than they can use. 

“Urban households tend to generate more food waste than rural ones, as rural communities more often repurpose discarded food,” they write. 

Supermarkets also waste significant amounts of food: the authors note that in Brazil, supermarket chains reported losses of R$6.7 billion ($1.2 billion USD) from food waste in 2018 alone. And refrigeration during transport has shifted when and where food waste occurs, resulting in more food being wasted in consumers’ homes. 

“These patterns underscore the need to complement cold chain expansion with consumer education on proper food storage, portioning, and planning to avoid shifting food waste burdens onto urbanizing middle-class households,” the authors write. 

Regardless of a country’s wealth, the researchers say that reducing food waste will require collaborations between governments, retailers and food producers, research institutions, communities, and consumers. They suggest implementing awareness campaigns that emphasize portion control and leftover repurposing and incentives to encourage composting, alternative waste uses, and community-level food sharing and donation. They also underscore the importance of incorporating food-waste strategies into broader sustainability and equity efforts. 

“A more comprehensive, globally coordinated strategy—anchored in country- and region-specific policy interventions—is needed to mitigate impacts and foster progress toward more sustainable food systems,” the authors write. 

### 

Cell Reports Sustainability, Barrera and Vieira, “The global convergence of food waste: A growing sustainability challenge” https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-sustainability/fulltext/S2949-7906(25)00192-2

Cell Reports Sustainability (@CellRepSustain), published by Cell Press, is a monthly gold open access journal that publishes high-quality research and discussion that contribute to understanding and responding to environmental, social-ecological, technological, and energy- and health-related challenges. Visit https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-sustainability/home. To receive Cell Press media alerts, contact press@cell.com. 

---

Journal

Cell Reports Sustainability

DOI

10.1016/j.crsus.2025.100496 

Method of Research

Commentary/editorial

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

The global convergence of food waste: A growing sustainability challenge

Article Publication Date

26-Sep-2025

 

Racial and ethnic disparities in occupational health

JAMA Health Forum

Facebook

WeChatBlueskyMessageWhatsAppEmail

About The Study: 

Disparities in workplace safety are a significant contributor to racial and ethnic health disparities. Addressing both occupational concentration and within-occupation disparities is essential for improving workplace safety and reducing health inequities among workers.

Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Michael Dworsky, PhD, email mdworsky@rand.org.

To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/

(doi:10.1001/jamahealthforum.2025.3495)

Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

#  #  #

Embed this link to provide your readers free access to the full-text article 

 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama-health-forum/fullarticle/10.1001/jamahealthforum.2025.3495?utm_source=For_The_Media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_term=092625

About JAMA Health Forum: JAMA Health Forum is an international, peer-reviewed, online, open access journal that addresses health policy and strategies affecting medicine, health and health care. The journal publishes original research, evidence-based reports and opinion about national and global health policy; innovative approaches to health care delivery; and health care economics, access, quality, safety, equity and reform. Its distribution will be solely digital and all content will be freely available for anyone to read.

---

Journal

JAMA Health Forum

 

ITU and UNDP bring global community together to advance technology for good

Digital@UNGA 2025 spotlights digital solutions, innovations and investments for humanity as the United Nations marks 80 years

International Telecommunication Union

Facebook

WeChatBlueskyMessageWhatsAppEmail

New York, 26 September 2025 – Digital leaders from government, the private sector and civil society, including youth representatives, shared insights on how technology can be a force for good, for people and prosperity at Digital@UNGA 2025, a week-long series of activities during the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.

Digital@UNGA, organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), brought together thousands of participants through its Anchor Event at United Nations Headquarters and over 40 affiliate sessions hosted in New York, across the UN system and online around the world.

“My top takeaway from Digital@UNGA 2025 is the lasting power of digital to tackle our most urgent global challenges,” said ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin. “I was deeply inspired by the innovations we saw, the voices we heard from across the world, and the commitments made — all converging towards a digital future that truly works for everyone.”

As the UN marks its 80th anniversary, Digital@UNGA demonstrated how technology – including the latest innovations in artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing – can help transform individual lives and build global prosperity.

“Every day we see how digital innovation can accelerate sustainable development – from expanding access to health care and education to supporting livelihoods,” said UNDP Acting Administrator Haoliang Xu. “But the story of digital is not about devices, platforms, or algorithms. It is about people – a world where technology connects rather than divides – driving development that leaves no one behind. This is the spirit of Digital@UNGA.”

Committing to connectivity and AI skills

According to the SDG Digital Acceleration Agenda, issued by ITU and UNDP in 2023, more than two-thirds of the UN’s targets for sustainable development can benefit directly from digital technologies.

To help bring these benefits to all, Microsoft announced a pledge at the Digital@UNGA Anchor Event to empower communities with future-ready AI skills and tools.

The pledge, made under ITU’s Partner2Connect Digital Coalition (P2C) global pledging platform, is part of the new Microsoft Elevate initiative, which will help 20 million people earn an in-demand AI skilling credential over the next two years, backed by a USD 4 billion investment.

"AI presents a transformative opportunity to drive economic growth and societal progress, but only if its benefits are shared broadly and equitably,” said Lisa Monaco, President of Global Affairs at Microsoft. "We are proud to do our part and also recognize this era requires the international community to come together to ensure everyone can participate in the AI economy."

The pledge announced at Digital@UNGA brings to over USD 80 billion the total mobilized through Partner2Connect toward its 2026 goal of USD 100 billion. 

Also at the Anchor Event, ITU launched an initiative with Google and musician, tech founder and philanthropist will.i.am to bring AI and robotics training to underserved schools in Africa in coordination with the ITU-UNICEF Giga initiative, which supports governments to connect the world’s schools.

Affiliate sessions and public voices highlight global digital action 

Digital@UNGA 2025 builds on more than two decades of UN-led cooperation to advance digital development for the good of all – from the World Summit on the Information Society in 2003 and 2005 to last year’s Global Digital Compact. By keeping digital cooperation at the centre of the international agenda, UNDP and ITU aim to ensure that technology-driven transformation delivers for everyone, everywhere.

Digital@UNGA 2025 affiliate sessions were hosted by a wide range of groups—including civil society, academia, industry, and international organizations—highlighting global efforts in digital cooperation. The sessions showcased diverse perspectives and innovative approaches to building a more connected digital future.

The global public also participated with Digital@UNGA through Digit’all Voices, an online campaign that took questions from across regions, generations and perspectives on how technology can advance inclusion, sustainability and prosperity.

Government and technology leaders at the Digital@UNGA anchor event addressed questions from the campaign in a session led by Indian actor Prajakta Koli, UNDP’s Youth Climate Champion. Contributions will be featured on the campaign page.

Digital@UNGA activities were made possible by GSMA, Novartis Foundation, and Vodafone as Lead Supporters; Lenovo as Supporter; and Amazon, Google, IDB, Microsoft, and ZTE as Partner2Connect Champions.

###

Editor’s notes:

• Learn more about Digital@UNGA 2025 here.

About ITU:

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the United Nations agency for digital technologies, driving innovation for people and the planet with 194 Member States and a membership of over 1,000 companies, universities, civil society, and international and regional organizations. Established in 1865, ITU coordinates the global use of the radio spectrum and satellite orbits, establishes international technology standards, drives universal connectivity and digital services, and is helping to make sure everyone benefits from sustainable digital transformation, including the most remote communities. From artificial intelligence (AI) to quantum, from satellites and submarine cables to advanced mobile and wireless broadband networks, ITU is committed to connecting the world and beyond. Learn more: www.itu.int   ​

About UNDP:

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet. UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet. Supporting this global mission, the Digital, AI & Innovation (DAI) Hub brings together UNDP's cutting-edge capabilities across digital, data, AI, bottoms-up innovation, and systems transformation to improve the lives of those furthest behind. Through this integrated approach, UNDP drives dynamic and agile transformation at scale, helping to deliver both immediate solutions as well as long-term systems change in countries. Learn more at undp.org​ or follow @UNDPDigital. ​

 

Vietnam’s food environment is changing fast. Policy needs to catch up

As in many countries around the world, Vietnam’s consumers are inundated with cheap, unhealthy food. The negative health results are already being seen, particularly in children. The policy response is not keeping up with the crisis.

The Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture

Facebook

XLinkedInWeChatBlueskyMessageWhatsAppEmail

 

image: 

A retail market in Vietnam shows the wide availability of highly processed unhealthy foods.

view more 

Credit: CIAT/Ha Dao

More than half of the world’s population could be living with overweightedness or obesity by 2035, with a rapidly growing share in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). It is also estimated that the global economic impact could top US$4 trillion by that time. These trends are closely tied to the rise of obesogenic food environments; settings where unhealthy food options are cheap, ubiquitous, and heavily promoted.

Walk into any Hanoi convenience store and you will see “Mua 1 tặng 1” (buy-one-get-one) banners on sugary drinks. These promotions are not background noise; they shape habits. In Ho Chi Minh City, over a third of adolescents report drinking at least one sugary beverage every day.

Meanwhile, childhood overweightedness in Vietnam has risen quickly: among children aged 5–19, prevalence more than doubled between 2010 and 2020. These are not just isolated statistics; they reflect what kids actually face in stores, schools, streets, and on screens every day.

“When the default (food) choice is ultra-processed and aggressively marketed, asking families to ‘try harder’ is not good policy," said Brice Even, a food environment specialist at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT. "We must reshape the places where choices are made”

Vietnam’s food environments are transforming. Modern retail is expanding, foods are becoming more processed and packaged, and unhealthy food marketing is pervasive across physical and digital spaces. These shifts delivered convenience and (in some cases) safer handling, but they also made less healthy options easier to find and harder to avoid; just as in many LMICs. A new study by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT and colleagues maps these changes and the policy response to date.

“Vietnam is a vivid case of a broader story: food environments are evolving faster than policy frameworks," said Truong Thi Thu Trang, the Deputy Director of the Institute of Strategy and Policy for Agriculture and Environment, part of Vietnam's agriculture and environment ministry. "We need to act collaboratively to catch up with the reality people face on shelves, streets, and screens.”

What was searched and why

The Alliance and colleagues assessed Vietnam’s policies using the Healthy Food Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI), a tool that benchmarks how well governments regulate key domains of the food environment, from labeling and marketing to pricing and retail structures. The findings show that most food environment dimensions score low or very low, with wide gaps in marketing restrictions, labeling, retail regulation, and fiscal policy. The policy recommendations build on research published earlier this year in Frontiers in Public Health.

Five priorities to make healthy diets the easier choice

Drawing on the analysis, Alliance researchers worked with a panel of national experts to co-develop a practical set of policy recommendations. These are designed to foster policy dialogue among non-specialists and policymakers who want high-impact, feasible steps:

1. Strengthen nutrition standards for processed foods: Move beyond food-safety compliance to include clear nutrient profiling, standardized definitions of “healthy” and “unhealthy” foods, and targets for salt, sugar, and trans-fat reduction.
2. Balance modern retail growth with maintained access to fresh, healthy foods: Support traditional markets and informal vendors that supply fresh, affordable foods; use zoning rules and public procurement to limit the proliferation of unhealthy outlets and to expand healthier options in underserved areas.
3. Tighten food messaging rules: Introduce stronger and mandatory limits on marketing to children, complementing (not replacing) dietary-guideline education. International experience shows Food-EPI style frameworks help target these changes.
4. Use fiscal policy to improve affordability: Vietnam’s new excise tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, approved in 2025 and set to begin in 2027, is a major step. Evidence from many countries show such taxes reduce purchases of sugary drinks; extending fiscal tools to other ultra-processed foods and expanding subsidies for nutrient-rich items would further level the playing field.
5. Evaluate and enforce what is already on the books. Strengthen monitoring, inspection, and impact evaluation. Broader policy evaluation can help identify gaps, improve effectiveness, and guide future actions.

“This is not about choosing between safety and nutrition; it’s about doing both," said Even. "The tools exist. The challenge is aligning incentives and capacity so that they work together.”

Vietnam’s current progress could catalyze broader progress

Vietnam’s decision to tax sugary drinks signals political momentum. Aligning that fiscal shift with standardized definitions, better labeling, and smarter retail rules would create a coherent package; one that many LMICs could adapt. That is the core message of our research: public health goals need to be built into the rules of the game, not left solely to individual responsibility or food industry willpower.

 

Further reading:

• Unpacking food environment policy landscapes for healthier diets in “emerging” countries: the case of Viet Nam.
• Policy brief: Vietnam Food Environment: Unpacking the national policy landscape

 

Children run past a large delivery of ultraprocessed food on a city's outskirts in Vietnam.

A street vendor in Vietnam with fresh produce.

Credit

CIAT/Ha Dao

Method of Research

Systematic review

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Vietnam food environment: Unpacking the national policy landscape