Will Masters
@willmasters.bsky.social
Prof. at the Friedman School of Nutrition & Dept. of Economics at Tufts University @tuftsnutrition.bsky.social.
Open-access book on Food Economics: Agriculture, Nutrition and Health.
http://sites.tufts.edu/willmasters
Open-access book on Food Economics: Agriculture, Nutrition and Health.
http://sites.tufts.edu/willmasters
Pinned
Will Masters
@willmasters.bsky.social
· Nov 21
Is there any grad school other than @tuftsnutrition.bsky.social where student-lounge whiteboards look like this, with nutritional biochemistry sketched out next to #FoodEconomics diagrams, and rabbits in the garden?
Reposted by Will Masters
My colleague @willmasters.bsky.social and I had a nice conversation with Norbert Wilson at @dukewfpc.bsky.social about least cost diets in the United States and internationally, with implications for understanding SNAP in the US and world hunger. wfpc.sanford.duke.edu/podcasts/how...
E286: How 'least cost diet' models fuel food security policy - World Food Policy Center
Governments use something called a ‘least cost diet’ to monitor food access, inform policy discussions, and target interventions to improve food security and nutrition. So, what is the least cost diet...
wfpc.sanford.duke.edu
October 31, 2025 at 3:40 PM
My colleague @willmasters.bsky.social and I had a nice conversation with Norbert Wilson at @dukewfpc.bsky.social about least cost diets in the United States and internationally, with implications for understanding SNAP in the US and world hunger. wfpc.sanford.duke.edu/podcasts/how...
Thanks to Pablo Rosado of @ourworldindata.org for a clear, vivid explanation of what #FoodPricesForNutrition metrics reveal about healthy diet costs and affordability.
The original data are posted at www.fao.org/faostat/en/#... & worldbank.org/foodpricesfo..., from sites.tufts.edu/foodpricesfo...
The original data are posted at www.fao.org/faostat/en/#... & worldbank.org/foodpricesfo..., from sites.tufts.edu/foodpricesfo...
Almost three billion people cannot afford a healthy diet
A healthy, nutritious diet is much more expensive than a calorie sufficient one.
ourworldindata.org
October 15, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Thanks to Pablo Rosado of @ourworldindata.org for a clear, vivid explanation of what #FoodPricesForNutrition metrics reveal about healthy diet costs and affordability.
The original data are posted at www.fao.org/faostat/en/#... & worldbank.org/foodpricesfo..., from sites.tufts.edu/foodpricesfo...
The original data are posted at www.fao.org/faostat/en/#... & worldbank.org/foodpricesfo..., from sites.tufts.edu/foodpricesfo...
The tomato theory of everything
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Winter is coming. So are tariff-induced price hikes on tomatoes and other produce. - The Boston Globe
A rise in produce prices could be a sign of higher costs to come as President Trump’s tariffs on imported food become more significant.
www.bostonglobe.com
October 5, 2025 at 5:58 PM
The tomato theory of everything
1/3
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Just finished the superb new book from @juliabelluz.bsky.social and @kevinh-phd.bsky.social.
Crystal clear storytelling about the new science of nutrition, summarizing what we learn at top schools like @tuftsnutrition.bsky.social.
It's a timely antidote to snake oil & vibes--highly recommended!
Crystal clear storytelling about the new science of nutrition, summarizing what we learn at top schools like @tuftsnutrition.bsky.social.
It's a timely antidote to snake oil & vibes--highly recommended!
Food Intelligence by Julia Belluz, Kevin Hall, PhD: 9780593332306 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
“Food Intelligence dispels many popular myths we have about weight loss and breaks down the real drivers of the obesity crisis based on decades of research. I really hope everyone gets a chance to...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com
October 5, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Just finished the superb new book from @juliabelluz.bsky.social and @kevinh-phd.bsky.social.
Crystal clear storytelling about the new science of nutrition, summarizing what we learn at top schools like @tuftsnutrition.bsky.social.
It's a timely antidote to snake oil & vibes--highly recommended!
Crystal clear storytelling about the new science of nutrition, summarizing what we learn at top schools like @tuftsnutrition.bsky.social.
It's a timely antidote to snake oil & vibes--highly recommended!
The U.S. food security data to be cancelled by Trump's USDA has been of huge value but is often misunderstood -- and the WSJ piece breaking the news is exceptionally clear about what's at stake
Exclusive | Trump Administration Cancels Annual Hunger Survey
The government has been measuring food insecurity since the mid-1990s but now says the report has become “overly politicized.”
www.wsj.com
September 21, 2025 at 9:00 PM
The U.S. food security data to be cancelled by Trump's USDA has been of huge value but is often misunderstood -- and the WSJ piece breaking the news is exceptionally clear about what's at stake
Great piece from @henrymance.ft.com on a surprising way in which people have turned away from idealism: fewer online searches for "vegan".
Data in the next post...
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Data in the next post...
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Why the vegans lost
Veganism didn’t become less good for us or the planet, so what changed?
on.ft.com
August 31, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Great piece from @henrymance.ft.com on a surprising way in which people have turned away from idealism: fewer online searches for "vegan".
Data in the next post...
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Data in the next post...
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Big new paper shows limits to the common belief that healthy & sustainable foods are more expensive than other options.
Details: linkedin.com/posts/wamast...
Article:
doi.org/10.1016/j.aj...
Preprint: sites.tufts.edu/foodpricesfo...
From @tuftsnutrition.bsky.social, for #foodsky #econsky #foodecon
Details: linkedin.com/posts/wamast...
Article:
doi.org/10.1016/j.aj...
Preprint: sites.tufts.edu/foodpricesfo...
From @tuftsnutrition.bsky.social, for #foodsky #econsky #foodecon
August 23, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Big new paper shows limits to the common belief that healthy & sustainable foods are more expensive than other options.
Details: linkedin.com/posts/wamast...
Article:
doi.org/10.1016/j.aj...
Preprint: sites.tufts.edu/foodpricesfo...
From @tuftsnutrition.bsky.social, for #foodsky #econsky #foodecon
Details: linkedin.com/posts/wamast...
Article:
doi.org/10.1016/j.aj...
Preprint: sites.tufts.edu/foodpricesfo...
From @tuftsnutrition.bsky.social, for #foodsky #econsky #foodecon
It looks like healthy adults under 65 in the U.S. might be barred from getting the updated Covid vaccine for this fall. Here's the latest from my niece Nina Masters' Know Your Vax substack, in response to the story below from Caitlin Rivers @cmyeaton.bsky.social
August 20, 2025 at 10:31 PM
It looks like healthy adults under 65 in the U.S. might be barred from getting the updated Covid vaccine for this fall. Here's the latest from my niece Nina Masters' Know Your Vax substack, in response to the story below from Caitlin Rivers @cmyeaton.bsky.social
Marion Nestle just posted a useful roundup of links about the leaked draft MAHA report here:
www.foodpolitics.com/2025/08/http...
So far MAHA is playing out somewhat like Italy's right-wing gastronationalism, which distracts food activists with symbolic stuff so as to give industry gets a free hand.
www.foodpolitics.com/2025/08/http...
So far MAHA is playing out somewhat like Italy's right-wing gastronationalism, which distracts food activists with symbolic stuff so as to give industry gets a free hand.
My guess is that MAHA will follow the food policy playbook of Italy's right wing, whose defense of tradition is used to stop rules against harmful new foods. In the U.S. we'll be distracted by fights over raw milk & beef tallow, while the real story is rules on sugar & salt.
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PS, about Italy:
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PS, about Italy:
The Mediterranean diet is a lie
Italy’s food is supposed to be the world’s healthiest. So why are so many of its kids obese?
www.politico.eu
August 20, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Marion Nestle just posted a useful roundup of links about the leaked draft MAHA report here:
www.foodpolitics.com/2025/08/http...
So far MAHA is playing out somewhat like Italy's right-wing gastronationalism, which distracts food activists with symbolic stuff so as to give industry gets a free hand.
www.foodpolitics.com/2025/08/http...
So far MAHA is playing out somewhat like Italy's right-wing gastronationalism, which distracts food activists with symbolic stuff so as to give industry gets a free hand.
Reposted by Will Masters
Sailing on Boston Harbor on a breezy summer afternoon with @willmasters.bsky.social, practicing dropping and raising the anchor, and, for conversation, in our imagination, solving global food systems challenges.
August 18, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Sailing on Boston Harbor on a breezy summer afternoon with @willmasters.bsky.social, practicing dropping and raising the anchor, and, for conversation, in our imagination, solving global food systems challenges.
Reposted by Will Masters
As ABC News @max-zahn.bsky.social reports, producer prices for vegetables jumped nearly 40% in one month.
Tariffs? Supply hiccups due to immigration crackdown on farm laborers? Weather? Or random noise?
Let's monitor vegetable prices in the next two months to see.
abcnews.go.com/Business/tar...
Tariffs? Supply hiccups due to immigration crackdown on farm laborers? Weather? Or random noise?
Let's monitor vegetable prices in the next two months to see.
abcnews.go.com/Business/tar...
Are tariffs to blame for nearly 40% spike in wholesale vegetable prices? Experts weigh in
The wholesale-price spike may eventually hike prices for shoppers, experts said.
abcnews.go.com
August 16, 2025 at 11:57 AM
As ABC News @max-zahn.bsky.social reports, producer prices for vegetables jumped nearly 40% in one month.
Tariffs? Supply hiccups due to immigration crackdown on farm laborers? Weather? Or random noise?
Let's monitor vegetable prices in the next two months to see.
abcnews.go.com/Business/tar...
Tariffs? Supply hiccups due to immigration crackdown on farm laborers? Weather? Or random noise?
Let's monitor vegetable prices in the next two months to see.
abcnews.go.com/Business/tar...
Reposted by Will Masters
Remember all of the “food prices are too high” social media posts from 2024?
Grocery price inflation is higher now than it was then
Grocery price inflation is higher now than it was then
Today's U.S. CPI shows grocery price inflation rising and above 2% year-on-year since March 2025, after the period of low grocery price rises in 2023-24.
This FRED chart shows rise in grocery inflation (green) vs restaurant meals (red) and the overall CPI (blue):
fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/?g=1LgBF
This FRED chart shows rise in grocery inflation (green) vs restaurant meals (red) and the overall CPI (blue):
fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/?g=1LgBF
FRED Graph
FRED Graph
fred.stlouisfed.org
August 16, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Remember all of the “food prices are too high” social media posts from 2024?
Grocery price inflation is higher now than it was then
Grocery price inflation is higher now than it was then
Reposted by Will Masters
Wholesale prices came in hot in today’s PPI report, but veggies stole the show 🥦📈
Vegetable prices at the wholesale level surged nearly 39% in July. @willmasters.bsky.social & I unpack what’s behind this spike in today's @marketplace.org 🎙️
www.marketplace.org/story/2025/0...
Vegetable prices at the wholesale level surged nearly 39% in July. @willmasters.bsky.social & I unpack what’s behind this spike in today's @marketplace.org 🎙️
www.marketplace.org/story/2025/0...
Why are wholesale vegetable prices spiking, and what's that mean for consumers?
About a quarter of the 3.3% price increase recorded by this month’s producer price index was driven by a spike in wholesale prices for veggies.
www.marketplace.org
August 15, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Wholesale prices came in hot in today’s PPI report, but veggies stole the show 🥦📈
Vegetable prices at the wholesale level surged nearly 39% in July. @willmasters.bsky.social & I unpack what’s behind this spike in today's @marketplace.org 🎙️
www.marketplace.org/story/2025/0...
Vegetable prices at the wholesale level surged nearly 39% in July. @willmasters.bsky.social & I unpack what’s behind this spike in today's @marketplace.org 🎙️
www.marketplace.org/story/2025/0...
For university courses about #FoodEconomics, a full set of class slides, weekly exercises, & exams is now available for use with the free online textbook from @afinaret.bsky.social and me. Audience is advanced undergrads and first-year grad students using graphical diagrams, examples and global data
Teaching resources – Food Economics
sites.tufts.edu
August 13, 2025 at 12:36 PM
For university courses about #FoodEconomics, a full set of class slides, weekly exercises, & exams is now available for use with the free online textbook from @afinaret.bsky.social and me. Audience is advanced undergrads and first-year grad students using graphical diagrams, examples and global data
Today's U.S. CPI shows grocery price inflation rising and above 2% year-on-year since March 2025, after the period of low grocery price rises in 2023-24.
This FRED chart shows rise in grocery inflation (green) vs restaurant meals (red) and the overall CPI (blue):
fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/?g=1LgBF
This FRED chart shows rise in grocery inflation (green) vs restaurant meals (red) and the overall CPI (blue):
fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/?g=1LgBF
FRED Graph
FRED Graph
fred.stlouisfed.org
August 12, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Today's U.S. CPI shows grocery price inflation rising and above 2% year-on-year since March 2025, after the period of low grocery price rises in 2023-24.
This FRED chart shows rise in grocery inflation (green) vs restaurant meals (red) and the overall CPI (blue):
fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/?g=1LgBF
This FRED chart shows rise in grocery inflation (green) vs restaurant meals (red) and the overall CPI (blue):
fred.stlouisfed.org/graph/?g=1LgBF
This year's #AAEA2025 coincides with launch of the UN system's #SOFI2025 report on The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World.
Beyond diet costs and affordability, this year's report includes new work from @tuftsnutrition.bsky.social and @fao.org on relative cost of different foods:
Beyond diet costs and affordability, this year's report includes new work from @tuftsnutrition.bsky.social and @fao.org on relative cost of different foods:
3.4 Price inflation of nutrient-dense foods relative to other foods: Are there differences?
This report documents how high food price inflation is associated with increases in food insecurity and child malnutrition.
openknowledge.fao.org
July 29, 2025 at 1:34 PM
This year's #AAEA2025 coincides with launch of the UN system's #SOFI2025 report on The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World.
Beyond diet costs and affordability, this year's report includes new work from @tuftsnutrition.bsky.social and @fao.org on relative cost of different foods:
Beyond diet costs and affordability, this year's report includes new work from @tuftsnutrition.bsky.social and @fao.org on relative cost of different foods:
Yesterday's launch of #SOFI2025 marks the 4th annual update of global diet cost and affordability data published jointly by FAO and the World Bank, used by UN agencies and national governments as a clear and actionable new metric of global food security.
Direct link to the report is here:
Direct link to the report is here:
July 29, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Yesterday's launch of #SOFI2025 marks the 4th annual update of global diet cost and affordability data published jointly by FAO and the World Bank, used by UN agencies and national governments as a clear and actionable new metric of global food security.
Direct link to the report is here:
Direct link to the report is here:
Big thanks to #ABCDE2025 for an amazing 4 days blending new research with big-picture debate on global development in this era of political change.
Here's their video of my 15-min summary of #FoodPricesForNutrition, on whether & how agriculture can meet health needs:
www.youtube.com/live/AEV4YE1...
Here's their video of my 15-min summary of #FoodPricesForNutrition, on whether & how agriculture can meet health needs:
www.youtube.com/live/AEV4YE1...
July 26, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Big thanks to #ABCDE2025 for an amazing 4 days blending new research with big-picture debate on global development in this era of political change.
Here's their video of my 15-min summary of #FoodPricesForNutrition, on whether & how agriculture can meet health needs:
www.youtube.com/live/AEV4YE1...
Here's their video of my 15-min summary of #FoodPricesForNutrition, on whether & how agriculture can meet health needs:
www.youtube.com/live/AEV4YE1...
Reposted by Will Masters
Will Masters of Tufts University shows how a well-crafted indicator (in this case, the lowest cost of a healthy diet) can actively inform civil society discussion.
For more, read his paper www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... #ABCDE2025
For more, read his paper www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... #ABCDE2025
July 25, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Will Masters of Tufts University shows how a well-crafted indicator (in this case, the lowest cost of a healthy diet) can actively inform civil society discussion.
For more, read his paper www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... #ABCDE2025
For more, read his paper www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... #ABCDE2025
Great storytelling about agricultural innovation from @kimseverson.bsky.social.
The context is a taxpayer-funded public institution doing modern genetics that helps millions of people, but the story is framed as a branded treat from a cute couple at the bucolic-sounding Wild Peanut Lab. Genius!
The context is a taxpayer-funded public institution doing modern genetics that helps millions of people, but the story is framed as a branded treat from a cute couple at the bucolic-sounding Wild Peanut Lab. Genius!
How an M&M Sparked the Search for the Next Perfect Peanut
www.nytimes.com
July 24, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Great storytelling about agricultural innovation from @kimseverson.bsky.social.
The context is a taxpayer-funded public institution doing modern genetics that helps millions of people, but the story is framed as a branded treat from a cute couple at the bucolic-sounding Wild Peanut Lab. Genius!
The context is a taxpayer-funded public institution doing modern genetics that helps millions of people, but the story is framed as a branded treat from a cute couple at the bucolic-sounding Wild Peanut Lab. Genius!
Reposted by Will Masters
Many moons ago, @kevinh-phd.bsky.social and I talked about a book we wished existed. No fads, no weight loss hacks, no fear-mongering -- just the science of how food works in your body. Thrilled to share that we wrote it!
Out September 23, pre-oder here: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/671334...
Out September 23, pre-oder here: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/671334...
Food Intelligence by Julia Belluz, Kevin Hall, PhD: 9780593332306 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
The essential guide for understanding what you’re eating, and the forces that are driving you to eat it. Nutrition isn’t rocket science; it’s harder. There are new diet fads, bold...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com
July 16, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Many moons ago, @kevinh-phd.bsky.social and I talked about a book we wished existed. No fads, no weight loss hacks, no fear-mongering -- just the science of how food works in your body. Thrilled to share that we wrote it!
Out September 23, pre-oder here: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/671334...
Out September 23, pre-oder here: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/671334...
Reposted by Will Masters
Learning to sail small open boats for ocean voyaging, propelled by an upbeat vision of prosperity under conditions of sharp decarbonization, here is a video from Boston Harbor yesterday with friends. Film by @willmasters.bsky.social. #ClimateAction
youtu.be/MtBm289wmtU?...
youtu.be/MtBm289wmtU?...
Boston Harbor sailing July 2025
YouTube video by Parke Wilde
youtu.be
July 7, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Learning to sail small open boats for ocean voyaging, propelled by an upbeat vision of prosperity under conditions of sharp decarbonization, here is a video from Boston Harbor yesterday with friends. Film by @willmasters.bsky.social. #ClimateAction
youtu.be/MtBm289wmtU?...
youtu.be/MtBm289wmtU?...
New paper links emotions in artwork to socioeconomic conditions over >500 years.
One finding: in W. Europe, paintings got cheerier in the decades after more favorable climatic conditions.
Great big-picture stuff from @heblich.bsky.social, w/ C. Gorin & Y. Zylberberg: www.nber.org/papers/w33976
One finding: in W. Europe, paintings got cheerier in the decades after more favorable climatic conditions.
Great big-picture stuff from @heblich.bsky.social, w/ C. Gorin & Y. Zylberberg: www.nber.org/papers/w33976
July 7, 2025 at 12:06 PM
New paper links emotions in artwork to socioeconomic conditions over >500 years.
One finding: in W. Europe, paintings got cheerier in the decades after more favorable climatic conditions.
Great big-picture stuff from @heblich.bsky.social, w/ C. Gorin & Y. Zylberberg: www.nber.org/papers/w33976
One finding: in W. Europe, paintings got cheerier in the decades after more favorable climatic conditions.
Great big-picture stuff from @heblich.bsky.social, w/ C. Gorin & Y. Zylberberg: www.nber.org/papers/w33976
Brief review article out today in Food Policy traces the rapid adoption of least-cost diets for monitoring food access.
Paper: authors.elsevier.com/a/1lND015oGp...
Project: sites.tufts.edu/foodpricesfo...
Something new, from @tuftsnutrition.bsky.social + many others as shown by google ngram data:
Paper: authors.elsevier.com/a/1lND015oGp...
Project: sites.tufts.edu/foodpricesfo...
Something new, from @tuftsnutrition.bsky.social + many others as shown by google ngram data:
July 4, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Brief review article out today in Food Policy traces the rapid adoption of least-cost diets for monitoring food access.
Paper: authors.elsevier.com/a/1lND015oGp...
Project: sites.tufts.edu/foodpricesfo...
Something new, from @tuftsnutrition.bsky.social + many others as shown by google ngram data:
Paper: authors.elsevier.com/a/1lND015oGp...
Project: sites.tufts.edu/foodpricesfo...
Something new, from @tuftsnutrition.bsky.social + many others as shown by google ngram data:
Thank you to @lacastanon.bsky.social for wonderful piece explaining the work of #FoodPricesForNutrition.
It's a hot summer of new stuff from @tuftsnutrition.bsky.social, helping farmers and food suppliers meet health needs in the U.S. and worldwide.
It's a hot summer of new stuff from @tuftsnutrition.bsky.social, helping farmers and food suppliers meet health needs in the U.S. and worldwide.
Who in the World Can Afford Healthy Food?
Researchers at the Food Prices for Nutrition project at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts Universty are measuring the cost of the cheapest, locally available ingredients for...
now.tufts.edu
July 1, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Thank you to @lacastanon.bsky.social for wonderful piece explaining the work of #FoodPricesForNutrition.
It's a hot summer of new stuff from @tuftsnutrition.bsky.social, helping farmers and food suppliers meet health needs in the U.S. and worldwide.
It's a hot summer of new stuff from @tuftsnutrition.bsky.social, helping farmers and food suppliers meet health needs in the U.S. and worldwide.