How To Navigate Nutrition Science in the Media

In today’s world, we have more information at our fingertips than ever before. While the plethora of science news presents seemingly endless opportunities for learning, the wealth of potential sources also presents a unique set of challenges. With every trending scientific topic and the social media conversation that follows, it’s increasingly difficult to sift fact from fiction. How can you successfully navigate today’s science news? Read on for helpful tips. Be Careful With Clickbait The power of headlines is undeniable– those few words often determine whether you click on an article, share it without reading it, or scroll past it. While there’s not necessarily harm in reading an article simply because you’ve been intrigued by the headline—that’s what they’re designed to do!—it’s important to keep in mind that the message conveyed in a headline may suggest an exaggeration of the truth or stands without context. That’s why it’s so crucial to read an article before sharing it. And as you’re reading, ask yourself: Does this seem like a simple answer to a complex question? For example, articles may present a single food as the ultimate cure to all our health problems. While these “trendy” foods may indeed have health benefits, no one food can meet all the complex needs of our bodies, which rely on diverse nutrients provided by many different foods to function well. At the end of the day, our bodies need balance, variety, and moderation when it comes to what we consume—a fact not always stressed by the latest nutritional trends in the media. Study the Studies Social media content or articles that cite scientific studies often feel more accurate, demonstrating the legitimacy of the claims being made. But it’s important to look closely at the studies these posts draw from—not all research is equal, and scrutinizing how a […]

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Advance the Science. Empower the Public. At IFIC, we believe science should guide the conversation around food—and we’re looking for professionals who feel the same. Our team blends expertise in food safety, nutrition and science communication to support a more informed public. We are always looking for: Sound like you? Send us a note. Tell us who you are and why you want to join our team.

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Survey: Nearly Half of U.S. Consumers Avoid GMO Foods; Large Majority Primarily Concerned About Human Health Impact

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 27, 2018 Download the full report Survey: Nearly Half of U.S. Consumers Avoid GMO Foods; Large Majority Primarily Concerned About Human Health Impact Proposed Federal Bioengineered (BE) Foods Disclosure Suggests Lower Consumer Acceptance, Less Willingness to Pay Under Various Labeling Options (Washington, D.C.)—Labels proposed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to disclose “bioengineered” (BE) foods dramatically increase a wide variety of consumer concerns, especially regarding human health. Those are among the findings of new research by the International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation into areas where AMS sought comments on its proposed BE labeling standards, as well as consumers’ views generally of genetically modified foods, or GMOs. Concerns Arise When BE Foods Are Labeled With AMS’s July 3 deadline to comment on the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Law fast approaching, the IFIC Foundation tested reactions to the three BE labeling symbols and two variations of text disclosures. In every combination, levels of concern across a variety of factors increased—often substantially—when a disclosure label was applied. For example, consumers were shown bottles of canola oil 1) without any BE logo or text, 2) with one of the three symbols (a plant, a sun or a smile), 3) with a symbol, plus “bioengineered” in text and 4) with a symbol, plus “may be bioengineered” in text. An additional group of consumers were shown just text disclosure, without any BE logo. When shown the bottle without any disclosure, approximately one-third (31 percent) of a group of respondents had human health concerns. But that rose to 50 percent when shown the BE “plant” symbol, further increasing to 51 percent when text was added to indicate that the product was “bioengineered,” and to 57 percent when “may be bioengineered” was added to the “plant” logo. Human health […]

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Protein with Ali Webster, PhD, RD [Podcast]

Protein is an essential nutrient — it’s important for everything from appetite regulation to physical fitness to healthy skin and hair. But what exactly is a protein? How much do we need, and where do we get it? On this edition of DataDish: Your Trusted Serving of Science, we talk with Ali Webster, PhD, RD, Associate Director of Nutrition Communications at IFIC and IFIC Foundation. Ali has bachelor of science and doctorate degrees in nutrition from the University of Minnesota, and she is also a Registered Dietitian. Some highlights from our conversation:

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Protein and Muscle Synthesis with Douglas Paddon-Jones [PODCAST]

Protein is one of the three ways we get calories. But it’s much more than that, a fact that research continues to reveal. Among other things, eating enough protein help us feel full longer, and provides other essential vitamins and minerals that can support strong bones and a healthy immune system. On this edition of DataDish, we spoke with Douglas Paddon-Jones, PhD, to help us understand more ways that protein contributes to health. Dr. Paddon-Jones is a Distinguished Professor in Aging and Health at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas, where his research interests include muscle physiology, protein metabolism, sarcopenia (age-related loss of muscle mass) and physical inactivity. Some highlights: Do people eat enough protein? Minimum daily requirements are different from the amount we may need for optimal health or athletic performance, but what are those amounts? Dr. Paddon-Jones explains. How much protein can our body use from one meal? You may have heard that eating too much protein in one meal is a waste because our bodies have the ability to process only a certain amount. The truth is that there is a difference between the amount our bodies can process from one meal and the amount required to stimulate muscle growth. Does protein intake impact kidney health? Dr. Paddon-Jones clarifies this misconception about protein consumption in healthy people. Which source or protein is better: plant or animal? Protein comes from both plant and animal sources, so the choice is entirely up to you. Vegetarians can get plenty of protein, it just takes a little more planning to make sure they get all the necessary amino acids. What is the role of the funder in research? Dr. Paddon-Jones discusses transparency and the role of research funders to address basic science and practical issues. Enjoy the podcast! […]

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Celebrating a Scientific Changemaker for AAPI Heritage Month: Dr. Fan Qingsheng

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month—a wonderful time to highlight the many pivotal social, cultural, and scientific contributions of the people who have Asian and/or Pacific Islander lineage in the U.S. This year, we’re highlighting Fan Qingsheng, a dynamic scientist who accomplished a great deal in the realms of botany, antibiotic production, microbial pathogenesis, and public health efforts to thwart infectious diseases in both the U.S. and China. While the benefits Qingsheng imparted to these fields were all significant, his work was especially pioneering in the study of nitrogen availability in soil and the bacteria that positively contribute to it—helping the U.S. (and the world) make huge strides in the science of crop development. Beneficial Bacteria: Living Their Best Lives Healthy soil is a key ingredient for farming success and nutritious crop production. Fertile soils harbor a plethora of beneficial bacteria, constituting a unique ecosystem that aids in soil-water dispersal, nutrient cycling, and plant-disease suppression. In our everyday lives, we typically are taught to avoid bacteria in order to sidestep foodborne illness. But in the case of soil, there are many vital “good guy” bacteria that help plants and ecosystems thrive. In fact, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has noted that a teaspoon of productive soil generally contains between 100 million and one billion bacteria! Bacteria display varied activity in soil and are grouped into four categories: decomposers (which convert plant matter into forms of food for other living organisms in the soil); mutualists (which become partners with plants and convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into nitrogen for plants); pathogens (which can cause disease in plants but can also facilitate helpful antibiotic production in soil); and lithotrophs and chemoautotrophs (which obtain energy from compounds of nitrogen, sulfur, iron, or hydrogen instead of from plants or other organic matter). Nitrogen (which composes […]

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Survey: Nearly Half of U.S. Consumers Avoid GMO Foods; Large Majority Primarily Concerned About Human Health Impact

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 27, 2018 Download the full report Survey: Nearly Half of U.S. Consumers Avoid GMO Foods; Large Majority Primarily Concerned About Human Health Impact Proposed Federal Bioengineered (BE) Foods Disclosure Suggests Lower Consumer Acceptance, Less Willingness to Pay Under Various Labeling Options (Washington, D.C.)—Labels proposed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to disclose “bioengineered” (BE) foods dramatically increase a wide variety of consumer concerns, especially regarding human health. Those are among the findings of new research by the International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation into areas where AMS sought comments on its proposed BE labeling standards, as well as consumers’ views generally of genetically modified foods, or GMOs. Concerns Arise When BE Foods Are Labeled With AMS’s July 3 deadline to comment on the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Law fast approaching, the IFIC Foundation tested reactions to the three BE labeling symbols and two variations of text disclosures. In every combination, levels of concern across a variety of factors increased—often substantially—when a disclosure label was applied. For example, consumers were shown bottles of canola oil 1) without any BE logo or text, 2) with one of the three symbols (a plant, a sun or a smile), 3) with a symbol, plus “bioengineered” in text and 4) with a symbol, plus “may be bioengineered” in text.  An additional group of consumers were shown just text disclosure, without any BE logo. When shown the bottle without any disclosure, approximately one-third (31 percent) of a group of respondents had human health concerns. But that rose to 50 percent when shown the BE “plant” symbol, further increasing to 51 percent when text was added to indicate that the product was “bioengineered,” and to 57 percent when “may be bioengineered” was added to the “plant” logo. Human health […]

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Is There a Benefit to Going “Veggan”?

How would you describe your diet? Vegetarian? Flexitarian? Do you strictly live off potatoes? Ron Swanson was a major supporter of eating an abundant amount of breakfast foods. You could fill an encyclopedia with terms people use to describe their diet. Luckily for us, you can add one more to the list. A new diet trend is sweeping the vegetarian/vegan world by storm. It’s called “vegganism.” Veggans follow the traditional vegan diet but with one egg-ception—they add eggs to their menu of options. Let’s rewind. Vegetarians do not eat fish, meat or poultry, but do eat eggs and dairy. Vegans also follow the no-meat rule, but also exclude animal products or by-products such as eggs, dairy and honey. In the past, eggs have had a bad reputation, as their yolks contain a lot of dietary cholesterol. Well, never fear. The 2015 Dietary Guidelines state that dietary cholesterol does not play a major role in blood cholesterol, adding that many more important factors affect blood cholesterol. And in fact, eggs are really good for you. Eggs are packed with protein, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats (which support a healthy cardiovascular system), and tons of vitamins that support a healthy and strong body. So why might vegans benefit from adding eggs to their diets? First of all, eggs are a good source of vitamin B12 (also known as cobalamin), which vegans and vegetarians might have a hard time consuming because it is found naturally in animal products, although it is also fortified in foods such as cereals and soy milk. Vitamin B12 is important because it helps maintain a healthy nervous system, helps the body convert food into fuel, and is needed for healthy skin, hair, eyes, and liver. Secondly, vitamin D is vital for bone health and immune function. Most Americans don’t […]

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