UW News

Melissa Knox


September 25, 2025

After schools instituted universal free meals, fewer students had high blood pressure, UW study finds

Students move through a school lunch line. One places a slice of pizza on a tray.

Students schools that offered free meals to all students were less likely to have high blood pressure, suggesting that universal free meals might be a powerful tool for improving public health. 


August 19, 2025

UW research shows Fresh Bucks program improves fruit and vegetable intake, food security

Fruits and vegetables on a shelf at a grocery store

A new study from the University of Washington shows that households enrolled in the City of Seattle’s Fresh Bucks program experience a 31% higher rate of food security and consume at least three daily servings of fruits and vegetables 37% more often than those assigned to a program waitlist. Fresh Bucks, a $40 a month benefit, works with local partners to help residents access fresh food.


October 21, 2024

Sweetened beverage taxes decrease consumption in lower-income households by nearly 50%, UW study finds

A glass of soda sitting on a wooden table

New research from the University of Washington investigated responses to sweetened beverage taxes using the purchasing behavior of approximately 400 households in Seattle, San Francisco, Oakland and Philadelphia. Researchers found that after the tax was introduced, lower-income households decreased their purchases of sweetened beverages by nearly 50%, while higher-income households reduced purchases by 18%.


July 8, 2022

Sweetened beverage taxes produce net economic benefits for lower-income communities

Bottles and cans of soda on store shelves

New research led by University of Washington professors James Krieger and Melissa Knox found that sweetened beverage taxes redistributed dollars from higher- to lower-income households.