It’s Not Just The Message, It’s Also The Messenger: New IFIC Research Re-examines Trust In Food & Nutrition Science
(Washington, D.C.) — As March shines a spotlight on food, nutrition, and science—with National Nutrition Month® recognizing the important role of registered dietitians as well as March 26 marking National Science Appreciation Day—new research from the International Food Information Council (IFIC) re-examines and underscores a timely truth: when it comes to food and nutrition science, who delivers the message and how the message is delivered matters.
The 2026 IFIC Spotlight Survey: Americans’ Trust In Food & Nutrition Science, which re-examines findings from a similar survey fielded in 2024, finds that trust remains a critical prerequisite for Americans to embrace sound, science-based food guidance. Nearly two-thirds of Americans (64%) express at least some trust in food and nutrition science, yet one in five (20%) remain uncertain—neither trusting nor distrusting it.
“Trust is the gateway to behavior change,” said IFIC President & CEO Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, MS, RDN. “If Americans don’t trust the science behind food guidance or the messenger delivering it, even the most well-intentioned recommendations won’t resonate. Our research shows that skepticism doesn’t necessarily mean resistance, but it does mean we have work to do.”
Is Trust In Food & Nutrition Science Softening?
Compared to the 2024 fielding of a similar IFIC Spotlight Survey, trust has softened modestly. While the percentage of those who neither trust nor distrust food and nutrition science remains stable, distrust has edged upward from 12% to 16%. Still, among those with lower levels of trust in food and nutrition science, nearly half (48%) of Americans say they would be more willing to change their diet if their trust in food and nutrition science increased.
“That’s the opportunity,” Reinhardt Kapsak added. “Nearly half of those with lower trust tell us they’d reconsider their food choices if their trust improved. Building trust isn’t abstract—it has tangible implications for public health.”
When Advice Feels Like It Is Always Changing
More than seven in ten Americans (72%) say recommendations about what to eat and drink seem to be “always changing.” While this perception has decreased slightly since October 2024 (79%), it continues to shape emotions and behaviors around food.
Among those who perceive shifting guidance, 41% report feeling confused, 33% frustrated, and nearly one in five (18%) feel stressed. Yet the reaction is not uniformly negative—29% say changing guidance sparks curiosity, and 16% feel inspired.
“Because this survey was fielded in December 2025, before the release of the updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans, it captures an unfiltered snapshot of public sentiment around dietary guidance,” explained IFIC Senior Director, Research & Consumer Insights, Kris Sollid, RD. “That vantage point is critical: it establishes a baseline for understanding how the Guidelines and other future dietary guidance updates influence public perception and confidence in the science that underpins them.”
“Science evolves—that’s its strength and superpower,” said Reinhardt Kapsak. “Yet if updates are not communicated clearly and credibly, they can feel like contradictions rather than progress. For individuals navigating health challenges or even tight grocery budgets, that confusion can be overwhelming.”
The Messenger Matters
The survey findings are clear: Americans place the greatest trust in food advice that is evidence-based (58%), simple and easy to follow (58%), and delivered by a registered dietitian (57%). By contrast, fewer than one-third say they are more likely to trust advice that is widely shared on social media (29%) or that uses shock or fear tactics (26%).
Trust in food advice from the U.S. government is evenly split among agreement (32%), neutrality (36%), and disagreement (33%), reinforcing the nuanced landscape communicators must navigate.
Building Trust, Strengthening Science Communication
The survey findings suggest that improving dietary behaviors is not simply about increasing the volume of information. Instead, it requires building and sustaining trust through clear, credible, and consistent communication, particularly for populations facing barriers to adopting guidance.
To support this work, IFIC offers a comprehensive Understanding & Interpreting Food & Health Scientific Studies: Guidance For Food & Nutrition Communicators and a practical Science Communication Toolkit, designed to help professionals translate complex research and scientific studies into accessible, evidence-based messaging that resonates with diverse audiences.
“National Nutrition Month® and National Science Appreciation Day remind us that food and nutrition professionals as well as scientists play a vital role in helping Americans navigate food choices with confidence,” Reinhardt Kapsak said. “When we prioritize trust—through transparency, empathy, and evidence—we empower people to make decisions that support their health and well-being.”
View the full survey here.
Research Methodology
2026 IFIC Spotlight Survey: Americans’ Trust In Food & Nutrition Science
The International Food Information Council (IFIC) commissioned an online survey among U.S. consumers to measure knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and trust in food and nutrition science. One thousand and eighteen adults ages 18 years and older completed the online survey from December 9-15, 2025, and were weighted to ensure proportional results. Totals may not equal 100% due to rounding. The Bayesian confidence level for the survey sample (n=1000) is 3.5, which is roughly equivalent to a margin of error of ±3.1 at the 95% confidence level.
2024 IFIC Spotlight Survey: Americans’ Trust In Food & Nutrition Science
The International Food Information Council (IFIC) commissioned an online survey among U.S. consumers to measure knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about trust in science about food, nutrition, and diet. One thousand adults ages 18 years and older completed the online survey from July 11-13, 2024, and respondents were weighted to ensure proportional results.