IFIC Spotlight Survey: Americans’ Perceptions Of Protein

This report from the International Food Information Council (IFIC) contains results from two separate consumer surveys—the 2025 IFIC Food & Health Survey and the July 2025 IFIC Spotlight Survey. Each survey’s methodology is briefly described below: July 2025 IFIC Spotlight Survey​ IFIC commissioned this online survey among U.S. consumers (n=1000) to measure knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about protein. One thousand adults ages 18 years and older completed the online survey from May 10-13, 2025, and were weighted to ensure proportional results. Totals may not equal 100% due to rounding. 2025 IFIC Food & Health Survey​ IFIC commissions this survey annually among U.S. consumers (n=3000 since 2024, n=1000 in prior years), with 2025 marking the 20th consecutive year of the IFIC Food & Health Survey. Results were weighted to ensure that they are reflective of the American population ages 18 to 80 years, as seen in the 2024 Current Population Survey. Specifically, results were weighted by age, education, gender, race/ethnicity, and region. The 2025 IFIC Food & Health Survey was fielded from March 13-27, 2025. Key findings include:

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2017 IFIC Food & Health Survey

The 2017 Food & Health Survey gives a new perspective on conflicting nutrition information and how it affects Americans’ food choices. Survey findings also suggest that this preponderance of conflicting information may stem from a disconnect between the sources Americans trust and those they rely upon. Despite the fact that most Americans report that they trust registered dietitians and other healthcare professionals for information about food and nutrition, they often don’t have access to them as a primary source for what to eat and how to cook. Instead, many rely on less-trusted friends and family to instruct them. This may leave many individuals – especially millennials – feeling uncertain about their food choices. These new results reveal opportunities for credentialed experts, like registered dietitians and healthcare professionals, to work towards being a trusted and relied upon source for information about food and nutrition.   Suggested citation for the 2017 Food and Health Survey: International Food Information Council. 2017 Food & Health Survey. 13 September 2017. 

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IFIC Spotlight Survey: Knowledge, Understanding & Behaviors When Feeding Young Children

Our dietary habits as young children have an especially strong influence over how we eat for the rest of our lives, demonstrating the importance of promoting good nutrition early on. Yet the past year has shone a spotlight on the challenges of raising children while balancing many other priorities. Understanding the decisions made by parents and caregivers—and the hurdles they face while trying to provide food for their children—provides valuable information for improving the dietary habits of children nationwide. A new survey by the International Food Information Council (IFIC), “Knowledge, Understanding and Behaviors When Feeding Young Children,” examines how parents and caregivers consider current diet recommendations for kids ages 2 to 10, how they interpret and implement nutrition advice, and what information sources adults rely on when making food and dietary choices for children. Survey results were derived from online interviews of 1,199 U.S. adults, conducted December 12, 2020, to January 4, 2021, by Dynata. Results were weighted to ensure proportional representation of the population, with a margin of error of ±3.1 points at the 95% confidence level, based on the general population sample of n=1,000. An additional 199 interviews were conducted among adults who identified as Black, African American, Hispanic, Latino, or of Spanish descent to assure adequate number of respondents to support comparisons. The research was supported by Abbott.

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What A Pediatrician Would Tell You About Arsenic, Rice, and Food Safety: Q&A with Dr. Claire Chehrazi

This week, FDA released their risk assessment on arsenic levels in rice products. Their main conclusion? “Consumers can certainly eat rice as part of a well-balanced diet.” They also share that based on their scientific assessment, they think it would be prudent for parents and caregivers to feed their infants a variety of fortified infant cereals and for pregnant women to vary their grains. We talked to Dr. Claire Chehrazi, pediatrician, to find out more about what this means for our food: FoodInsight: What is arsenic, and why would it be in food? Dr. Claire Chehrazi: Arsenic is a metal found in soil and water, both naturally and due to man-made sources. It’s found in small amounts in many plant-based foods because, during growth, plants naturally absorb trace amounts of arsenic from the soil and water. You may hear of two types of arsenic: inorganic and organic (unrelated to organic farming). Inorganic arsenic is the type of arsenic that, in large quantities, can cause adverse health problems. FI: Which foods contain arsenic? CC: All plant-based foods contain trace amounts of arsenic, including grains, such as rice, corn, and wheat, fruits and vegetables, as well as wine, and some juices. Rice has been shown to absorb more arsenic than other grains because it’s grown with large amounts of water.   FI: What are ‘trace levels?’ How much arsenic is in rice? CC: The term “trace levels” is used to indicate that very, very small amounts may be present when using highly sensitive detection methods. As an example, we measure arsenic in food in parts per billion.  The amount of arsenic in rice and rice products varies based on where the rice was grown, seasonal growing conditions, soil conditions and weather patterns, whether it is brown or white, and what kind of rice product it is. Generally, one serving […]

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Sweet Spot For Science: Navigating What Consumers Think & Know About Low- & No-Calorie Sweeteners

It is well known that babies are born with a natural taste preference for sweetness, which is thought to increase acceptance of their mother’s milk. Still, as we move on in years, it’s not so sweet to consume too much added sugar. With intake well exceeding recommended limits in the US, low- and no-calorie sweeteners (LNCS) offer a promising alternative, allowing consumers to satisfy their innate preference for sweetness without contributing to the rising risk of obesity and metabolic diseases. Enter complication and controversy. The mere mention of LNCS has long been rife for polarization with some touting their safety and effectiveness and others claiming the opposite. This dichotomy is perfectly represented in our IFIC Spotlight Survey: American Perceptions of Sweeteners in Foods & Beverages. Let’s look at the latest findings. Fearmongering Fallout It’s official – the message about added sugar overconsumption has gotten through. The annual IFIC Food & Health Survey consistently shows that consumers widely associate “low in sugar” with food and beverages that are healthier. Further, in the 2024 Survey more than three in four Americans (76%) reported trying to limit or avoid sugars. This was an increase from 2023 (72%). Still, I won’t sugarcoat it – sugar substitute safety is poorly understood. Despite the clear benefits of LNCS, misinformation and polarized opinions continue to cloud public perception, making it difficult for consumers to understand their true safety and value. In fact, nearly two in 10 Americans are not sure who has approval authority over the use of LNCS in the US, and one in 10 believe there is no US authority responsible. This tracks. In the IFIC Spotlight Survey, 42% of Americans reported their perceived safety of LNCS is informed by their own “research” – which is chilling given there’s more than a spoonful of misinformation […]

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One-Third of Americans Are Dieting, Including One in 10 Who Fast … While Consumers Also Hunger for Organic, “Natural” and Sustainable

Download Full Survey FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 16, 2018 More than one in three U.S. consumers are following a specific diet or eating pattern, and they are increasingly averse to carbohydrates and sugar, according to the 13th Annual Food and Health Survey, released today by the International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation. Given a list of diets to choose from, or the option to write in a response, 36 percent of Americans reported following a specific eating pattern or diet within the past year, about two-and-a-half times the number (14 percent) from 2017 when it was an open-ended question. The top eating pattern cited was intermittent fasting (10 percent). Diets considered at least somewhat restrictive of carbohydrates were well-represented, including Paleo (7 percent), low-carb (5 percent), Whole30 (5 percent), high-protein (4 percent), and ketogenic/high-fat (3 percent). Younger consumers (age 18 to 34) were more likely to follow a specific eating pattern or diet than those 35 and above. More Americans than in previous years blame carbs, and specifically sugars, for weight gain. While sugars continue to be the most cited cause of weight gain (33 percent), carbohydrates ranked second at 25 percent, up from 20 percent in 2017. Both of those numbers are the highest since 2011. Fats (16 percent), protein (3 percent) and “all sources” (17 percent) lagged behind when placing blame. Cardiovascular Health Is Top Desired Benefit, But Consumers Don’t Know How To Achieve It Almost all consumers are interested in getting specific health benefits from food or nutrients. However, the top two desired health benefits in 2018 changed places from 2017: This year, 20 percent ranked cardiovascular health as their top desired benefit, followed by weight loss or weight management at 18 percent and energy at 13 percent. In 2017, those numbers were 16 percent, 32 percent […]

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Consumer Confidence In Food Safety On The Decline: Unpacking Concerns Over Ingredients & Trust

(Washington, D.C.) — In light of numerous food recalls and a surge in alarming headlines about toxic ingredients in our food, it is no wonder that consumer confidence in the safety of the food supply is waning. In fact, the 2024 IFIC Food & Health Survey reveals that consumer confidence has reached an all-time low—the lowest it has been in a decade.  Given this stark decline, the latest International Food Information Council (IFIC) Spotlight Survey: American Consumer Perceptions of Food Ingredient Safety further examines how consumers make safety assessments when it comes to purchasing and consuming foods and beverages, specifically regarding ingredients.   “Trust is at the heart of food choices for individuals and their families,” said IFIC President & CEO Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, MS, RDN. “By exploring how consumers assess food and ingredient safety, we can pinpoint where trust may be faltering and identify opportunities to rebuild it.”  Top Safety Concerns Include Foodborne Illness, Heavy Metals  The latest IFIC Spotlight Survey seeks to identify the most pressing food safety concerns for Americans. Survey takers selected microbial concerns, such as the presence of E. coli, and the presence of heavy metals in food as the primary issues of concern. Specifically, nearly 1 in 3 Americans (32%) are “extremely concerned” about E. coli in ground beef. Additionally, 29% of Americans are extremely concerned about lead, cadmium, and arsenic in baby food, while 27% voice extreme concern about mercury in seafood.  Less than 1 in 5 are extremely concerned about allergens in packaged foods (16%) and allergens in foods served at restaurants (15%).   Ultraprocessed Foods, Dyes & Sugar Substitutes Ranked As The Most Avoided Foods & Ingredients   The latest Spotlight Survey uncovers a variety of factors that Americans consider when assessing the safety of food products, including foods and ingredients they avoid, as well […]

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Everything You Need to Know About Caffeine

Update: In 2019, the USDA updated database values for caffeine content in foods and beverages. You can learn more here. Many of us enjoy a daily pick-me-up, such as a freshly brewed cup of coffee, an ice cold soft drink, a hot cup of tea, or an energy drink all sharing a common ingredient: Caffeine. People all over the world have enjoyed foods and beverages containing caffeine for over a thousand years. It is one of the most studied food ingredients. Even so, misperceptions about this food ingredient continue. Given the buzz about caffeine, IFIC Foundation is providing science-based information on common questions about caffeine, its use in foods and beverages, and its effect on health. Download the Fact Sheet Is caffeine safe? Decades of research have found that moderate amounts of caffeine consumed by the general healthy population are safe and do not harm health. Caffeine’s safety is supported by its long history of consumption and extensive studies on its safety. How is caffeine used and regulated in foods and beverages? Caffeine may be used to impart a bitter taste to some food and beverage products, and some products may also contain caffeine for its well-known pick-me-up qualities. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies caffeine as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS). GRAS ingredients must meet one of the following requirements: 1) The ingredient’s safety was established before 1958, based on a history of safe use and consumption by a significant number of consumers or 2) Scientific data and information about the safety and use of the ingredient is widely known and publicly available (through scientific articles, etc.), and there is consensus among scientific experts that the ingredient is safe for its intended use. Caffeine is required to be listed in the ingredients list on food and beverage […]

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