About

Dr. Brenna Ellison is a faculty member associated with Purdue University's Department of Agricultural Economics. Her research focuses on issues related to farm policy, farmland markets, and rural economic resilience. She is involved in the Farm Policy Study Group, which discusses various topics including urban-rural divides, farmland market dynamics, and the future of farming. Dr. Ellison contributes to the understanding of agricultural economics through her participation in these discussions and her engagement with policy-related research.

Research topics

• Economics
• Political Science
• Medicine
• Agricultural economics
• Geography
• Environmental health
• Psychology
• Business
• Computer Science
• Biology
• Marketing
• Econometrics
• Law
• Nursing
• Agronomy
• Social psychology
• Virology
• Engineering
• Economic growth
• Waste management

Selected publications

• U.S. Consumers Sometimes Prefer Seemingly Redundant Labels

  Agribusiness · 2026-01-26

  articleOpen accessCorresponding

  ABSTRACT More food products are carrying seemingly redundant labels, which are marketing claims or certifications that reiterate product attributes already conveyed. In this paper, we aim to answer two questions on redundant labels. First, do consumers view redundant labels as deceptive or informative? Second, how do redundant labels affect product and brand perceptions? Using an online experiment, we find that consumers viewed redundant labels as more informational than deceptive, though there was more skepticism toward a no hormones added label on chicken than a gluten‐free label on corn tortilla chips. Second, we find that redundant labels can affect product and brand evaluations, but the direction may depend on how consumers perceive the label.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• MealSim Year 5: Data Collection and Analysis, Model Verification, and Extension Planning

  Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior · 2025-08-01

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Added protein, added value? Consumer demand for protein labels across product types, flavors, and consumer segments

  Food Quality and Preference · 2025-12-29

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Differentiating Added-Protein Preferences: Consumer Demand for Added-Protein Across Product Types

  Current Developments in Nutrition · 2025-05-01

  articleOpen accessSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Consumer Perceptions and Purchase Behavior Towards Plant-Based Eggs: A Vignette Experiment

  Foods · 2025-05-14 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  The plant-based eggs category is growing rapidly; however, there is limited research on consumer behavior towards plant-based eggs. We explore consumer perceptions and investigate factors affecting the likelihood of purchase for plant-based eggs by using experimental vignettes. Using data from a nationally representative sample of U.S. consumers, we find that traditional eggs were rated more favorably than plant-based eggs, though plant-based eggs were perceived more favorably on environmental impact and animal welfare for food-related attributes and on total fat and cholesterol for nutrition components. Additionally, consumers were more likely to purchase plant-based eggs at lower prices and when served as an ingredient to a main dish (pancakes) rather than on their own (scrambled eggs).

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Changes in SNAP participation and food expenditures for households with children during the pandemic

  2025-06-13

  reportOpen access

  The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), provides food benefits to low-income families so they can afford to purchase more nutritious food in retail stores. Despite the benefits of SNAP for reducing poverty and food insecurity, many eligible participants do not participate. Changes in SNAP at the beginning of the pandemic had immediate effects on existing participants but also provided incentives for new participants to join. Known barriers to participating in SNAP were lifted during the pandemic, including simplifying enrollment and changing how allotment amounts are calculated. We explore the characteristics of households with children that joined SNAP after substantial changes were made to the program in the early stages of the pandemic and how it affected their food purchases. We used household-based scanner data for 2019 and 2020 to assess demographic characteristics and food purchase expenditures by participation status. Program changes during the pandemic were successful in increasing enrollment for households with children and increasing food and beverage expenditures, but additional research is needed on how to encourage enrollment among the most at-risk households to increase food and nutrition security.

  PublisherDOI

• Health Halos or Drinkability? Evaluating What Is Behind Hard Seltzer's Meteoric Growth

  Journal of Consumer Affairs · 2025-04-07

  articleOpen access

  ABSTRACT The halo effect, or the tendency to judge one product characteristic based on other product characteristics, is prevalent in food purchasing decisions. However, its effects have remained understudied in beverage markets. Understanding potential health halos in alcohol markets is especially important given the many adverse public health outcomes associated with excessive consumption. This study uses primary data from a panel of 1,203 U.S. hard seltzer consumers to explore two potential halo effects in the alcohol marketplace. The experimental design isolates the impact of organic labeling on alcoholic beverages and compares the perceived healthiness of hard seltzer relative to beer. The results provide little evidence of these halo effects. Rather, perceived taste and drinkability appear to explain much of the recent growth in the hard seltzer market.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Exploring Changes in Perceived Stress Across Food Security Status Before and After a Cooking and Food Skills Intervention

  Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior · 2025-08-01 · 1 citations

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

• Economic Implications of MAHA-Inspired School Meal Priorities

  SSRN Electronic Journal · 2025-01-01

  preprintOpen access
  PublisherDOI

• Cooking and Food Skills Intervention Improves Food-related Behaviors, Attitudes and Convenience Orientation in Adults

  Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior · 2025-08-01 · 1 citations

  articleSenior author
  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Jayson L. Lusk

  24 shared

• Sharon M. Nickols‐Richardson

  University of California, Los Angeles

  19 shared

• Cassandra J. Nikolaus

  Washington State University

  18 shared

• Melissa Pflugh Prescott

  Case Western Reserve University

  14 shared

• David W. Davis

  9 shared

• Jessica Jarick Metcalfe

  6 shared

• Mary J. Christoph

  Gilead Sciences (United States)

  6 shared

• Karen Chapman‐Novakofski

  6 shared

Awards & honors

• James C. Snyder Memorial Lecture
• AGEC Distinguished Ag Alumni
• Purdue Ag Alumni Association