Dr. Adam Drewnowski Honored as 2026 Recipient of the Edna and Robert Langholz International Nutrition Award

October 21, 2026

CHICAGO – Internationally renowned nutrition researcher Dr. Adam Drewnowski has been selected as the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation's 2026 Edna and Robert Langholz International Nutrition Award recipient in recognition of his significant contributions to the nutrition and dietetics profession.

"The Academy Foundation is proud to award Dr. Adam Drewnowski the 2026 Edna and Robert Langholz International Nutrition Award," said 2026-2027 Academy Foundation Chair Eileen S. Myers, MPH, RDN, LDN, FAND. "This award honors the profound impact that Dr. Drewnowski's work on nutrition economics, food affordability, and public health has had and will continue to have on the fields of nutrition and dietetics."

Dr. Drewnowski is a professor of Epidemiology and the director of the Center for Public Health Nutrition at University of Washington in Seattle. His pioneering research on affordable nutrient dense foods has transformed how researchers, policymakers, and public health leaders think about access to healthy diets. On October 25, he will share his insights in San Antonio, Texas, during the 2026 Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo^®, the largest annual meeting of food and nutrition experts. His session is titled "Food Affordability and the Future of Public Health: A Conversation with the 2026 Langholz Award Recipient, Dr. Adam Drewnowski."

"Adam's research has had far-reaching global impact", said Marie Spiker, PhD, MSPH, RD, assistant professor, University of Washington School of Public Health and Past Academy Foundation Healthy and Sustainable Food Systems Fellow. "The idea that nutrition needs to be part of the equation when we think about food affordability—this is widely accepted now, but only because Adam’s work provided a solid scientific foundation for how we think about nutrient density in relation to food cost. His work has been truly transformative in the field of nutrition."

"In the classroom and on the global stage, Dr. Drewnowski champions a public-health-oriented view of dietetics in which diet quality is influenced by poverty, food prices, neighborhoods, cultural preferences, and food systems—not just individual choice," said Anne Lund, MPH, RDN, FAND, director, Graduate Coordinated Program in Dietetics and teaching professor, University of Washington. "His work has helped advance dietetics toward a more population-based and systems-oriented profession."

"The Foundation is grateful to the Langholz family for their generosity and vision for this award, which allows us to shine a spotlight on important topics in our field and honor the trailblazers whose work will have a lasting impact on the profession," said Myers.

The award was first presented in 1992 and aims to recognize an individual for their contribution to the field of nutrition and to help promote the contributions of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the registered dietitian to the health and wellness of all people worldwide.

###

About the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation is the only charitable organization devoted exclusively to supporting nutrition and dietetics professionals by empowering them to help consumers live healthier lifestyles. The Foundation serves as the philanthropic arm of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and does not receive any portion of member dues, relying solely on donations to thrive.

About the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Representing more than 112,000 credentialed nutrition and dietetics practitioners, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. The Academy is committed to improving the nation's health and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education and advocacy. Visit the Academy at www.eatright.org.