Food allergens affect millions of individuals and families every day. Whether you're helping consumers understand allergen labeling or answering questions about the major food allergens, this toolkit provides clear, science-based resources. Use it to stay informed, share accurate information and help manage food allergies with greater confidence.
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This toolkit is designed for communicators like you – whether you're a registered dietitian, scientist, academic or educator. Clear, credible science communication can do more than inform; it can build trust and inspire better decisions about food, nutrition and health. Here, you’ll find practical tools and real-world science communications examples to help you share information with confidence, clarity and purpose.
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What are sustainable food systems, and why do they matter? This toolkit explores the science and strategies behind sustainable food systems, offering expert insights and practical resources that show how nutrition, agriculture and environmental health work together to support a more resilient food future.
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Download the Stevia Fact Sheet for Consumers here Download the Stevia CPE Self-Study Activity here Learn more about the Stevia CPE Self-Study Activity here Why would I use a no-calorie sweetener? Almost everyone likes sweet taste. In fact, we’re born liking it. But sweet foods and drinks can add extra calories to our diet, which isn’t always kind to our waistlines. Low-calorie sweeteners provide sweetness without adding calories. Choosing lower-calorie versions of your favorite foods and drinks or sweetening your coffee or tea with a low-calorie sweetener instead of sugar are two ways to cut back on calories and sugar. What is stevia? Stevia sweeteners come from the leaves of the stevia plant, an herbal shrub that is native to South America. Stevia sweeteners have no calories. They are 200-350 times sweeter than sugar, so very little is needed to provide the same sweetness. Therefore, only a small amount is used to sweeten drinks, dairy products, confectionary, snacks, sauces, syrups and condiments. How should I use it? Many of your favorite foods and drinks come in lower-calorie versions that might contain stevia. Low-calorie sweeteners also come in small individual packets that are portioned to provide about the same level of sweetness as two teaspoons of sugar. You may have noticed these packets at restaurants or coffee shops. Stevia sweeteners are typically found in packets that are green or white and green. Stevia retains its sweetness at high temperatures. If you’re a baker, this is good news! You can use stevia to reduce the sugar and calories in your creations. Should I avoid stevia? Stevia sweeteners are recognized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as safe for everyone, including kids and pregnant and breastfeeding women. Like other low-calorie sweeteners, stevia sweeteners are an option for people with diabetes because they […]
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Download the Monk Fruit Fact Sheet for Consumers here Download the Monk Fruit CPE Self-Study Activity here Learn more about the Monk Fruit CPE Self-Study Activity here Why would I use a no-calorie sweetener? Almost everyone likes sweet taste. In fact, we’re born liking it. But sweet foods and drinks can add extra calories to our diet, which isn’t always kind to our waistlines. Low-calorie sweeteners provide sweetness without adding calories. Choosing lower-calorie versions of your favorite foods and drinks or sweetening your coffee or tea with a low-calorie sweetener instead of sugar are two ways to cut back on calories and sugar. What are monk fruit sweeteners? Monk fruit sweeteners come from the monk fruit, a small round fruit that is native to southern China. Monk fruit sweeteners have no calories. They are 100-250 times sweeter than sugar, so very little is needed to provide the same sweetness. Therefore, only a small amount is used to sweeten soft drinks, juices, desserts, candies and condiments. How should I use it? Many of your favorite foods and drinks come in lower-calorie versions that might contain monk fruit sweeteners. Low-calorie sweeteners, such as monk fruit sweeteners, also come in small individual packets that are portioned to provide about the same level of sweetness as two teaspoons of sugar. You may have noticed these packets at restaurants or coffee shops. Monk Fruit sweeteners retain sweetness at high temperatures. If you’re a baker, this is good news! You can use monk fruit sweeteners to reduce the sugar and calories in your creations. Should I avoid monk fruit sweeteners? Monk fruit sweeteners are permitted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in the U.S. food supply. Monk fruit sweeteners are safe for everyone from kids to pregnant and breastfeeding women. Like other low-calorie sweeteners, […]
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IFIC’s 2020 Food and Health Survey found that in the past year nearly one in every four people say they’re consuming more plant-based dairy alternatives. Almond, coconut, oat, rice or soy—you name it, someone’s turned it into something that resembles cow’s milk. Specifically, oat-based milk has made a name for itself with its allergen-free profile and unassuming taste. But what is oat-based milk, and should you consider drinking it? The basics Although oat-based milk is described as “milk,” it does not contain dairy, nuts or soy and is a vegan-friendly alternative to traditional cow’s milk. Oat-based milk is made using steel-cut oats that are soaked in water, blended and then strained through a cheesecloth. While the leftover pulp contains most of the fiber and protein that oats offer, the left-over liquid or “milk” also contains some of those nutrients. While oat-based milk is appealing to those who cannot tolerate or are allergic to dairy, nuts or soy, it’s also an option for those who have celiac disease or difficulty digesting gluten (although cow’s milk and other plant-based dairy alternatives are also valid options in this case). Oats are naturally gluten-free, but they can sometimes be processed in a facility that processes gluten-containing products. If you require a gluten-free diet, it’s important to choose oat-based milk that is certified gluten-free to ensure that there hasn’t been any cross-contamination. Oat-based milk and health Whole oats have been well-researched and are known for their heart-healthy benefits, and oat-based milk can offer similar benefits. Oat-based milk contains beta-glucan, which is a soluble fiber that can help reduce LDL cholesterol and may reduce the risk of heart disease. Fortified oat-based milk also contains essential nutrients like vitamin D and calcium, which are important for bone health. Here are the nutrition facts for a one-cup serving […]
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Highlights The Basics Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that also functions as a hormone in our bodies. It plays a critical role in building and maintaining skeletal health, since it helps the body absorb calcium and maintain appropriate concentrations of calcium and phosphorus, two of the primary minerals in bone. It’s also important for muscle function, helping nerves carry signals throughout the body and supporting the immune system. Vitamin D’s effect on preventing and treating a variety of health conditions is being actively studied, though no benefits have emerged as strongly as its role in preventing osteoporosis, osteomalacia and rickets (see “Vitamin D and Health,” below). Humans can get vitamin D in three ways: eating certain foods, taking dietary supplements and making it in our skin after sun exposure. When ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun comes in contact with the skin, vitamin D synthesis is triggered. However, this form of vitamin D is inactive and needs to undergo two activation steps before being used by the body. The amount of active vitamin D in our body is tightly regulated, so blood measurements of vitamin D status often measure the concentration of a form of inactive vitamin D known as 25(OH)D. The amount of 25(OH)D in the blood accounts for vitamin D consumed through foods and supplements as well as vitamin D made in the skin. Vitamin D and Health There is conclusive evidence that vitamin D plays an indispensable role in bone health. Long-term vitamin D deficiency leads to bone softening, known as rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. Insufficient vitamin D can also contribute to osteoporosis, a loss in bone density that results in brittle bones that are prone to breaking. Because it is involved in so many systems in the human body, vitamin D continues […]
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Over the past few decades, popular opinion on dietary fat has shifted considerably, and many have come to better appreciate the health benefits that certain types of fats can provide. We’ve talked about the ins and outs of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats—considered “healthy” fats—and cautioned against overconsumption of the trans fatty acids and saturated fats found in red and processed meats. But recently, one unique product made entirely from saturated fats has been extolled by many for its health benefits: medium-chain triglyceride oil, better known as MCT oil. How does it differ from other types of fats? Does the science live up to the hype? And should you be adding it to your diet? Let’s find out. What is MCT oil? Fatty acids mainly consist of carbon and hydrogen atoms linked up in a chain. They come in different lengths that are determined by the number of carbon atoms they contain. Short–chain fatty acids have fewer than 6 carbon atoms, while long chain fatty acids have more than 12 carbons. Medium-chain triglycerides are a type of fatty acid that has between six and 12 carbon atoms. MCTs are found naturally in foods like coconut and palm kernel oils and full-fat dairy products; they’re also found in human breast milk. In contrast with long-chain triglycerides (LCTs), MCTs have a slightly lower number of calories per gram (8.3 vs. 9.2). MCT oil is derived from processing coconut or palm kernel oils, and it primarily consists of saturated fat. A tablespoon of MCT oil contains 14 grams of fat and 115 calories. It is often colorless, odorless, and flavorless and is a liquid at room temperature, so it can be consumed on its own or mixed into foods and beverages. However, MCT oil has a low smoke point, so it should not be […]
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