Dr Eden Barrett

Dr Eden Barrett

Conjoint Lecturer

PhD (Health Sciences), University of Wollongong

Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Hons class 1), University of Wollongong

Medicine & Health
School of Health Sciences

Dr Eden Barrett is a public health nutrition researcher, academic and dietitian with expertise in nutrition, dietetics and food policy. She is a Senior Research Fellow in the Food Policy division at the George Institute for Global Health, a Conjoint Lecturer at the University of New South Wales, and holds a co-appointment at the Food is Medicine Institute and the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, Boston.

Dr Barrett leads a global research program that uses large-scale food composition data to evaluate the nutritional quality and sustainability of the global food supply. Her work advances the development and evaluation of evidence-based tools and policies, including nutrient profiling systems and front-of-pack labelling strategies, aimed at supporting healthier diets and reducing diet-related disease risk across diverse populations.

She has presented her research at major international conferences and received significant funding and awards, including support from the National Heart Foundation of Australia. In addition to her research, Dr Barrett contributes to academic leadership through active involvement in several national and international committees. Within her institutions, she founded the CRE Human and Planetary Health Early- and Mid-Career Researcher Group at The George Institute and serves on the UNSW School of Health Sciences Research Strategy Committee.

Phone
+61418285480
  • Journal articles | 2025
    Barrett EM; Cudhea F; Washbon E; Levitan Z; Sharib JR; Blumberg JB; Micha R; Mozaffarian D, 2025, 'Food Compass Score-10: validation of a method for evaluating the healthfulness of foods and beverages using ingredient list information', American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 121, pp. 1328 - 1334, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajcnut.2025.03.015
    Journal articles | 2025
    Barrett EM; Pettigrew S; Neal B; Rayner M; Coyle DH; Jones A; Maganja D; Gaines A; Mozaffarian D; Taylor F; Ghammachi N; Wu JHY, 2025, 'Modifying the Health Star Rating nutrient profiling algorithm to account for ultra-processing', Nutrition and Dietetics, 82, pp. 53 - 63, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1747-0080.12892
    Journal articles | 2025
    Barrett EM; Sträuli B; Coyle DH; Kelly B; Miller C; Jones A; Pettigrew S, 2025, 'Concerned but confused: Australian consumers’ awareness, understanding, and recognition of ultra-processed foods', Appetite, 214, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2025.108220
    Journal articles | 2025
    Chiu LCS; Yen HYS; Barrett E; Coyle D; Wu JHY; Louie JCY, 2025, 'Prevalence of food colors use in local and imported pre-packaged foods in Hong Kong', British Food Journal, 127, pp. 137 - 149, http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-12-2023-1130
    Journal articles | 2025
    De Waard A; Heris C; Barrett EM; Rickard E; Cohen R; Brinckley MM; Kennedy M; Calma T; Lyons L; O'Brien M; Thurber KA; Maddox R, 2025, 'Longitudinal Study of Indigenous Children: Adolescent never smoking and associations with individual, social, and environmental factors', Health Promotion International, 40, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daaf022
    Journal articles | 2025
    Keaney M; Jones A; Maganja D; Barrett EM, 2025, 'Protein-enriched breakfast cereals receive similar Health Star Ratings despite higher sugar and sodium content.', Public Health, pp. 105968, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2025.105968
    Journal articles | 2025
    Nguyen H; Jones A; Barrett EM; Shahid M; Gaines A; Hu M; Pettigrew S; Wu JHY; Coyle DH, 2025, 'Extent of alignment between the Australian Dietary Guidelines and the NOVA classification system across the Australian packaged food supply', Nutrition and Dietetics, 82, pp. 42 - 52, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1747-0080.12880
    Journal articles | 2025
    Price EJ; Kissock KR; Barrett EM; Batterham MJ; Beck EJ, 2025, 'Whole-grain modified Nova ultra-processed food definitions: A cross-sectional analysis of the impact on cardiometabolic risk measures when excluding high whole-grain foods from the ultra-processed food category in Australia', British Journal of Nutrition, 133, pp. 346 - 356, http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0007114524002952
    Journal articles | 2025
    Rickard E; Heris C; Barrett EM; de Waard A; Thurber KA; Brinckley MM; Cohen R; Kennedy M; Lyons L; O’Brien M; Calma T; Maddox R, 2025, 'Footprints in time: individual, social, and environmental factors and never-use of e-cigarettes among Indigenous adolescents', Health Promotion International, 40, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/heapro/daaf024
    Journal articles | 2025
    Sengupta A; Trieu K; Beck EJ; Wu JH; Pettigrew S; Barrett EM, 2025, 'Impact of whole-grain labelling on food choice and perceived healthfulness: A randomised choice experiment', Nutrition Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.numecd.2025.104406
    Journal articles | 2024
    Barrett EM; Shi P; Blumberg JB; O’Hearn M; Micha R; Mozaffarian D, 2024, 'Food Compass 2.0 is an improved nutrient profiling system to characterize healthfulness of foods and beverages', Nature Food, 5, pp. 911 - 915, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s43016-024-01053-3
    Journal articles | 2024
    Byron C; Kissock KR; Barrett EM; Beck EJ, 2024, 'Aligning front-of-pack labelling with dietary guidelines: including whole grains in the health star rating', European Journal of Nutrition, 63, pp. 2025 - 2033, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00394-024-03404-z
    Journal articles | 2024
    Colonna E; Heris CL; Barrett EM; Wells S; Maddox R, 2024, 'Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ Quitline use and the Tackling Indigenous Smoking program', Public Health Research and Practice, 34, http://dx.doi.org/10.17061/phrp34012403
    Journal articles | 2024
    Gaines A; Shahid M; Coyle D; Barrett E; Hadjikakou M; Wu JHY; Taylor F; Pettigrew S; Neal B; Seferidi P, 2024, 'Switches in food and beverage product purchases can reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Australia', Nature Food, 5, pp. 524 - 532, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s43016-024-00971-6
    Journal articles | 2024
    Geyik Ö; Seferidi P; Barrett EM; Jones A; Pettigrew S; Wu JHY; Hadjikakou M, 2024, 'Learning from nutrient profile models to inform environmental profile models', Lancet Planetary Health, 8, pp. e974 - e976, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(24)00269-9
    Journal articles | 2024
    Heris C; Caudell RZ; Barrett EM; Brinckley MM; Cohen R; Kennedy M; Whop LJ; Calma T; Maddox R, 2024, 'The social determinants of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults who do not smoke in regional Australia', Australian Journal of Rural Health, 32, pp. 275 - 285, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/ajr.13084
    Journal articles | 2024
    Keaney M; Maganja D; Barrett E; Pettigrew S; Jones A, 2024, 'Selective industry adoption of a voluntary front-of-pack nutrition label results in low and skewed uptake: 10-year results for the Health Star Rating', European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 78, pp. 916 - 918, http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41430-024-01480-2
    Journal articles | 2024
    Price EJ; Barrett EM; Batterham MJ; Beck EJ, 2024, 'Exploring the reporting, intake and recommendations of primary food sources of whole grains globally: A scoping review', British Journal of Nutrition, 132, pp. 1365 - 1376, http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0007114524002678
    Journal articles | 2024
    Wu JHY; Maganja D; Huang L; Trieu K; Taylor F; Barrett EM; Arnott C; Feng X; Schutte AE; Di Tanna GL; Mhurchu CN; Cameron AJ; Huffman MD; Neal B, 2024, 'Effectiveness of an online food shopping intervention to reduce salt purchases among individuals with hypertension – findings of the SaltSwitch Online Grocery Shopping (OGS) randomised trial', International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 21, pp. 148, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12966-024-01700-9
    Journal articles | 2024
    Yen SHY; Barrett E; Coyle DH; Wu JHY; Louie JCY, 2024, 'The distribution and co-occurrence of food additives in pre-packaged foods in Hong Kong', Food Control, 158, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2023.110210
    Journal articles | 2023
    Barrett EM; Afrin H; Rayner M; Pettigrew S; Gaines A; Maganja D; Jones A; Mozaffarian D; Beck EJ; Neal B; Taylor F; Munn E; Wu JH, 2023, 'Criterion validation of nutrient profiling systems: a systematic review and meta-analysis', American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 119, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajcnut.2023.10.013
    Journal articles | 2023
    Barrett EM; Gaines A; Coyle DH; Pettigrew S; Shahid M; Maganja D; Jones A; Rayner M; Mozaffarian D; Taylor F; Ghammachi N; Wu JHY, 2023, 'Comparing product healthiness according to the Health Star Rating and the NOVA classification system and implications for food labelling systems: An analysis of 25 486 products in Australia', Nutrition Bulletin, 48, pp. 523 - 534, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/nbu.12640
    Journal articles | 2023
    Barrett EM; Hart AC; Bhat S; Marklund M; Coyle DH; Heenan M; Pettigrew S; Wu JH, 2023, 'The Effect of Retail Food Environment Interventions on Dietary Behavior in Postsecondary Education Settings: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis', Journal of Nutrition, 153, pp. 3122 - 3130, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.08.034
    Journal articles | 2023
    Barrett EM; Thurber KA; Learnihan V; Lovett R; Thandrayen J; Thomas DP; Colonna E; Banks E; Maddox R, 2023, 'Estimating population coverage of Tackling Indigenous Smoking teams, a placed-based health intervention in Australia', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 47, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anzjph.2022.100012
    Journal articles | 2023
    Coyle DH; Sanavio L; Barrett E; Huang L; Law KK; Nanayakkara P; Hodgson JM; O’Connell M; Meggitt B; Tsai C; Pettigrew S; Wu JHY, 2023, 'A Cross-Sectional Evaluation of the Food Environment at an Australian University Campus', Nutrients, 15, http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/nu15071623
    Journal articles | 2023
    Ho CKW; Tjhin A; Barrett E; Coyle DH; Wu JHY; Louie JCY, 2023, 'The Nutritional Quality of Gluten-Free versus Non-Gluten-Free Pre-Packaged Foods and Beverages Sold in Hong Kong', Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism, 79, pp. 301 - 312, http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000530857
    Journal articles | 2023
    Law KK; Coyle DH; Neal B; Huang L; Barrett EM; Arnott C; Chow CK; Di Tanna GL; Lung T; Mozaffarian D; Berkowitz SA; Wong J; Wu T; Twigg S; Gauld A; Simmons D; Piya MK; MacMillan F; Khoo CL; Tian M; Trieu K; Wu JHY, 2023, 'Protocol for a randomized controlled trial of medically tailored meals compared to usual care among individuals with type 2 diabetes in Australia', Contemporary Clinical Trials, 132, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cct.2023.107307
    Journal articles | 2022
    Barrett EM; Maddox R; Thandrayen J; Banks E; Lovett R; Heris C; Thurber KA, 2022, 'Clearing the air: underestimation of youth smoking prevalence associated with proxy-reporting compared to youth self-report', BMC Medical Research Methodology, 22, http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12874-022-01594-w
    Journal articles | 2022
    Estell ML; Barrett EM; Kissock KR; Grafenauer SJ; Jones JM; Beck EJ, 2022, 'Fortification of grain foods and NOVA: the potential for altered nutrient intakes while avoiding ultra-processed foods', European Journal of Nutrition, 61, pp. 935 - 945, http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00394-021-02701-1
    Journal articles | 2022
    Heris C; Lovett R; Barrett EM; Calma T; Wright A; Maddox R, 2022, 'Deadly declines and diversity – understanding the variations in regional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander smoking prevalence', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 46, pp. 558 - 561, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.13286
    Journal articles | 2022
    Kennedy M; Barrett E; Heris C; Mersha A; Chamberlain C; Hussein P; Longbottom H; Bacon S; Maddox R, 2022, 'Smoking and quitting characteristics of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women of reproductive age: findings from the Which Way? study', Medical Journal of Australia, 217, pp. S6 - S18, http://dx.doi.org/10.5694/mja2.51630
    Journal articles | 2022
    Kennedy M; Heris C; Barrett E; Bennett J; Maidment S; Chamberlain C; Hussein P; Longbottom H; Bacon S; Field BG; Field B; Ralph F; Maddox R, 2022, 'Smoking cessation support strategies for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women of reproductive age: findings from the Which Way? study', Medical Journal of Australia, 217, pp. S19 - S26, http://dx.doi.org/10.5694/mja2.51631
    Journal articles | 2022
    Paige E; Banks E; Agostino J; Brieger D; Page K; Joshy G; Barrett EM; Korda RJ, 2022, 'The relationship of socioeconomic factors to the use of preventative cardiovascular disease medications: A prospective Australian cohort study', Preventive Medicine, 154, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2021.106884
    Journal articles | 2022
    Thurber KA; Thandrayen J; Maddox R; Barrett EM; Walker J; Priest N; Korda RJ; Banks E; Williams DR; Lovett R, 2022, 'Reflection on modern methods: Statistical, policy and ethical implications of using age-standardized health indicators to quantify inequities', International Journal of Epidemiology, 51, pp. 324 - 333, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyab132
    Journal articles | 2021
    Barrett E; Paige E; Welsh J; Korda RJ; Joshy G; Martin M; Banks E, 2021, 'Differences between men and women in the use of preventive medications following a major cardiovascular event: Australian prospective cohort study', Preventive Medicine Reports, 22, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pmedr.2021.101342
    Journal articles | 2021
    Cohen R; Maddox R; Sedgwick M; Thurber KA; Brinckley MM; Barrett EM; Lovett R, 2021, 'Tobacco related attitudes and behaviours in relation to exposure to the tackling indigenous smoking program: Evidence from the mayi kuwayu study', International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18, http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182010962
    Journal articles | 2021
    Thurber KA; Barrett EM; Agostino J; Chamberlain C; Ward J; Wade V; Belfrage M; Maddox R; Peiris D; Walker J; Baffour B; Wenitong M; Law C; Senior T; Priest N; Freeman K; Schramm T, 2021, 'Risk of severe illness from COVID-19 among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults: the construct of ‘vulnerable populations’ obscures the root causes of health inequities', Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 45, pp. 658 - 663, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1753-6405.13172
    Journal articles | 2021
    Williams GM; Tapsell LC; O'Brien CL; Tosh SM; Barrett EM; Beck EJ, 2021, 'Gut microbiome responses to dietary intake of grain-based fibers with the potential to modulate markers of metabolic disease: A systematic literature review', Nutrition Reviews, 79, pp. 1274 - 1292, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuaa128
    Journal articles | 2020
    Barrett EM; Amoutzopoulos B; Batterham MJ; Ray S; Beck EJ, 2020, 'Whole grain intake compared with cereal fibre intake in association to CVD risk factors: A cross-sectional analysis of the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (UK)', Public Health Nutrition, 23, pp. 1392 - 1403, http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1368980019004221
    Journal articles | 2020
    Barrett EM; Batterham MJ; Beck EJ, 2020, 'Whole grain and cereal fibre intake in the Australian Health Survey: Associations to CVD risk factors', Public Health Nutrition, 23, pp. 1404 - 1413, http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1368980019004233
    Journal articles | 2020
    Barrett EM; Brown M; Buckner L; Bradfield J; Khalid AA; Laur C; Ray S, 2020, 'Connecting nutrition as a hard science and international knowledge networks: Proceedings of the Fourth International Summit on Medical and Public Health Nutrition Education and Research', BMJ Nutrition Prevention and Health, 3, pp. 391 - 396, http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjnph-2020-000090
    Journal articles | 2020
    Barrett EM; Foster SI; Beck EJ, 2020, 'Whole grain and high-fibre grain foods: How do knowledge, perceptions and attitudes affect food choice?', Appetite, 149, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2020.104630
    Journal articles | 2019
    Barrett E; Amoutzopoulos B; Batterham M; Ray S; Beck E, 2019, 'Comparing Whole Grain with Cereal Fibre – Associations to Markers of Cardiovascular Disease Risk in the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey and the Australian Health Survey (P08-079-19)', Current developments in nutrition, 3
    Journal articles | 2019
    Barrett EM; Batterham MJ; Ray S; Beck EJ, 2019, 'Whole grain, bran and cereal fibre consumption and CVD: A systematic review', British Journal of Nutrition, 121, pp. 914 - 937, http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S000711451900031X
    Journal articles | 2018
    Barrett EM; Probst YC; Beck EJ, 2018, 'Cereal fibre intake in Australia: a cross-sectional analysis of the 2011–12 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey', International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 69, pp. 619 - 627, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09637486.2017.1399987
    Journal articles | 2018
    Barrett EM; Probst YC; Beck EJ, 2018, 'Creation of a database for the estimation of cereal fibre content in foods', Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 66, pp. 1 - 6, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2017.10.004
    Journal articles | 2017
    , 2017, 'Oral papers (in program order)', Nutrition & Dietetics, 74, pp. 9 - 49, http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1747-0080.12353
    Journal articles |
    Paige E; Banks E; Agostino J; Brieger D; Page K; Joshy G; Barrett E; Korda R, 'Socioeconomic factors, medication subsidisation and the use of preventative cardiovascular disease medications in Australia.', International journal of population data science, 7
  • Preprints | 2022
    Barrett EM; Maddox R; Thandrayen J; Banks E; Lovett R; Heris C; Thurber KA, 2022, Clearing The Air: Underestimation of Youth Smoking Prevalence Associated with Proxy-Reporting Compared to Youth Self-Report, http://dx.doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-1168215/v1
    Conference Papers | 2021
    Marmor EB; Maddox R; Thandrayen J; Johnson F; Banks E; Lovett R; Thurber K, 2021, 'Prevalence by proxy: Estimating youth smoking prevalence using nationally representative household surveys', in INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY, OXFORD UNIV PRESS, pp. 25 - 25, http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ije/dyab168.061

2024, Health Star Rating system anomalies analysis, Vic Health, $30,000 (Named investigator)

2023, GrainSwitch: An innovative online grocery shopping intervention to encourage healthy grain food choices among Australians at risk of cardiovascular disease, Heart Foundation Vanguard Awards, $69,995 AUD (Primary investigator)

2023, Food Compass Consultancy, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy/Tufts University, $128,000 AUD (Sole recipient)

2023, Healthier Diets for Healthy Lives sub-award, University of Ghana, ₵1,661,568 GHS (Named investigator)

2023, Understanding the mental and physical health impacts of climate activism - a research study, The Sunrise Project Peter Gray Community Action Fund, $15,000 AUD (Named investigator)

2021, Aboriginal Tobacco Scoping Project Co-Design, Cancer Institute NSW, $375,000 AUD (Named investigator)

2021, Proposal for Aboriginal Tobacco Scoping Project, Cancer Institute NSW, $140,000 AUD (Named investigator)

2018, Australian Endeavour Postgraduate Scholarship, Australian Government Department of Education, $75,000 AUD

My Research Supervision

Doctoral students:


Elissa Price - Food classification systems to model healthful dietary patterns for Australians (full-time)

Mariel Keaney - A framework for best practice front-of-pack sustainability labelling (full-time)

Prisca Arfines - Commercially produced foods for infants and young children – how healthy are they? An evaluation across Australia and Indonesia (full-time)