The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) is an independent nonprofit organization focusing on food safety, nutrition, and alcohol abuse. Founded in 1971 by Michael Jacobson and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the CSPI has over 800,000 members and publishes Nutrition Action Healthletter, a widely read and respected source for information on health and nutrition. In addition to disseminating information, the CSPI lobbies to pass health and nutrition legislation. The organization led efforts to pass the 1990 Nutrition Labeling and Education Act, which required all packaged and processed food sold in the United States to carry labels with nutritional information. Many food-industry leaders opposed the CSPI’s efforts, arguing that the requirements would be expensive to comply with and were not necessary. The Center also assisted with efforts to require warning labels on alcoholic beverages and to educate the public regarding the health dangers associated with fat, salt, and other substances in food. In recent years the CSPI has gained widespread publicity for its efforts to educate consumers about high fat content in movie-theater popcorn and the questionable nutritional value of fast food and ethnic food restaurants. The CSPI is credited with gaining passage of the law requiring “Nutrition Facts” to be posted on packaged and processed foods sold in the United States. The center also has lobbied for increases in excise taxes on alcoholic beverages as a means to reduce alcohol consumption. The CSPI has also influenced congressional legislation appropriating funds to reduce the risk of food-borne illnesses and to require safe-handling notices on meat and poultry products. The Center is currently assessing dangers associated with antibiotic resistance and biotechnology. The CSPI informs consumers regarding improvements and advances in nutrition and safety. With their newsletter and publicity, the CSPI significantly influences Americans’ eating habits and government regulation of the food industry. Products criticized for deceptive labeling or given negative reviews in the Nutrition Action Healthletter can expect to see their demand decrease.