David J Mela – Professional history

I am an independent nutrition scientist, advisor and consultant, serving in roles which can benefit from my combination of research expertise and commercial experience.

My PhD in nutrition (Penn State, 1985) was followed by an academic research career in the US (Monell Chemical Senses Center) and UK (Institute of Food Research), before joining Unilever from 1998 until retirement in 2019. This background provided experience with a wide diversity of topics in nutrition, reflected in over 100 professional publications, mainly in the areas of sensory perception and food choice, appetite and eating behaviour, and energy and macronutrient metabolism. As a team manager and senior scientist in Unilever, my work focused on innovation research in eating behaviour, weight control and metabolic health, also providing scientific guidance on related business, technical and regulatory issues. Throughout my career and into retirement, I have also provided evidence-based, impartial expert input to a range of academic, public health and trade organizations, including membership of the UK Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition [SACN] since 2005. I am a Registered Nutritionist and Fellow of the Association for Nutrition.