He is Directeur de Recherche at CNRS, the national research agency of France and heads the Centre Edgar Morin. In addition, he is a member of the steering committee of the French National Program on Nutrition and Health, serves on the Expert Advisory Group on Risk Communication at EFSA, the European Food Safety Authority, on the Strategic Committee on Sustainable Agriculture and Development (CSAAD) and on the executive committee of the European Sociological Association. 

From the mid seventies, he explored the structure and function of cuisines, taste and preferences, body image and their evolution and change over time and space. 

Fischler published about 230 articles concerning  food and nutrition, as well as several books. He was also editor of several publications.