Earth Day 2027
Healthy People
Food should nourish us, not harm us.
Learn how what we eat — and what’s in our food — shapes our health: from ultra-processed foods and pesticides to plastics, labeling, and access to healthy, affordable food.
Why it matters
Food is one of the most powerful influences on our health.
Yet millions of people still experience hunger or can’t access healthy, affordable food, while diet-related diseases are rising.
From ultra-processed foods and pesticides to plastics and food additives, what ends up on our plates raises public health questions that call for greater transparency, stronger science, and shared action.
- 14,000+
- Chemicals are known to be used in materials that come in contact with our food.
- Source: Nature
Our focus areas
What shapes a healthy plate
The areas of food and health we’re focusing on.
- Food access and affordability
- Nutrition and healthy dietary patterns
- Plant-based eating
- School food systems
- Food literacy
- Ultra-processed foods
- Food transparency and labeling
- Pesticides and other harmful chemicals
- Plastics, microplastics, and food-contact chemicals
- Public health
Test your knowledge
How much do you know about what’s on your plate?
Take the Healthy People quiz: 8 questions, less than 5 minutes.
FAQ
What is Healthy People?
Healthy People is one of the three pillars of Food for Our Planet™, EARTHDAY.ORG’s global theme for Earth Day 2027. It looks at the connection between what we eat, what is in our food, and human health.
What does Healthy People focus on?
Food transparency and labeling, nutrition and dietary patterns, plant-based eating, school food systems, food literacy, and the impacts of ultra-processed foods, pesticides, plastics and food-contact chemicals.
What is EARTHDAY.ORG’s approach to creating healthier food systems?
A systems approach: human health, thriving ecosystems and resilient communities are treated as one problem rather than three. Healthy People sits alongside Healthy Soils and Healthy Futures.
Who does EARTHDAY.ORG work with?
Researchers, health and nutrition organizations, schools, faith communities, businesses and campaigners around the world. Explore partnership opportunities.
What does a healthier food system look like?
One where a healthy diet is affordable and available, what is in our food is disclosed plainly, and the way food is grown and packaged does not undermine the health of the people eating it.