Anna Zeide

Anna Zeide is a Professor of History at Virginia Tech's College of Liberal Arts & Human Sciences, where she also serves as the founding director of the Food Studies Program. Her work bridges historical scholarship with contemporary food issues, examining how food systems reflect broader societal changes including environmental dynamics, cultural practices, consumer behavior, technology, health, and justice.

Dr. Zeide's research demonstrates how food serves as a critical lens for understanding American history and society. Her scholarship spans topics from canned food history to food waste, exploring intersections between industrial food production, consumer trust, marketing, and social movements. She examines food not merely as sustenance but as a complex cultural artifact revealing deeper historical patterns.

Her publications include the award-winning Canned: The Rise and Fall of Consumer Confidence in the American Food Industry (2018), which received the James Beard media award in 2019, Acquired Tastes: Stories About the Origins of Modern Foods (2021), and US History in 15 Foods (2023). Her work shows consistent engagement with how food systems reflect historical patterns of innovation, marketing, environmental change, and social justice.

• James Beard Media Award (2019) for 'Canned: The Rise and Fall of Consumer Confidence in the American Food Industry'

As founding director of Virginia Tech's Food Studies Program, Dr. Zeide has established interdisciplinary connections across the university, bringing together faculty and students from diverse fields to examine food systems from multiple perspectives. Her media appearances in Slate, The Roanoke Times, and Marketplace demonstrate her commitment to public engagement and translating academic research for broader audiences on topics including food inflation and changing food industry practices.

Dr. Zeide's current research focuses on the history of food waste and a family history project, continuing her exploration of how food systems reflect and shape American society, culture, and environmental relationships.