Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have developed a new, highly detailed map illustrating Americans' buying and consumption habits. Some hope the map can be used to better tailor nutritional guidelines and monitor public health as it related to processed food. Barry Popkin, the head of the UNC Food Research Program, said,
"The country needs something like this, given all of the questions about our food supply. We're interested in improving the public's health and it really takes this kind of knowledge."