Consumers Show Strong Interest in Knowing About Food Ingredients: “Clean” Is in, “Chemical-Sounding” Is Out

(Washington, D.C.)—Whether they impact flavor, appearance, nutrition, freshness or texture, food ingredients have been used for centuries for a variety of purposes. But the names of those ingredients or how they are described can make a big difference in whether we buy a particular food—or pass it by.  A new survey by the International Food Information Council (IFIC) is revealing just how big a role ingredients play in the food attitudes and purchasing habits of American consumers. The survey, “From ‘Chemical-Sounding’ to ‘Clean’: Consumer Perspectives on Food Ingredients,” shows that our interest is strong, “clean” is popular and health is paramount.  Ingredient Interest  Nearly two-thirds (63%) of adults say the ingredients in a food or beverage have at least a moderate influence on what they buy.  When we are shopping, the product itself is overwhelmingly where we look for information about the ingredients: 62% consult the ingredients list and 52% look at front-of-package information. Other sources of information trail far behind, including the websites or social media accounts of brands/companies (20%), family or friends (16%) and QR codes on packages (8%).  But the calculus changes somewhat when Americans seek more general information about food ingredients, with 20% saying family and friends are their top source, followed by websites or social media accounts of brands/companies (19%), the top articles shown after an online search (18%), their personal health care provider (16%) and websites or social media accounts of U.S. government agencies (15%). Only 4% of Americans cite food/nutrition social media influencers or bloggers as their top source of food ingredient information.   Not only is the influence of ingredients on purchasing decisions high, but consumer attentiveness is also growing, with 62% of respondents saying they are paying more attention to ingredient lists now than they did five years ago.  The survey also found pluralities of consumer support for the benefits of preservatives: 42% agree that adding preservatives to foods is a way to help reduce food waste (21% disagree) and 39% agree that adding an ingredient to a food would be positive if it extended shelf life (23% […]

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Eight Ways To Save Money on Groceries

Americans are feeling the effects of rising food costs. IFIC’s 2023 Food and Health Survey found that nine in ten consumers have noticed an increase in food and beverage prices in the last year. As a result, many of us are interested in cutting back on our grocery bills—wherever and whenever possible. While there are numerous factors that contribute to the cost of one’s food bill—including where you shop, what dietary restrictions you may have, and how many mouths you need to feed—there are a few tips you can employ to help you save money on groceries.  1. Simplify your meal planning. While it’s tempting to whip up exotic dishes from the wealth of extravagant recipes you can find in cookbooks and online, a surprising truth is that many people feel satisfied with a fewer number of meal options per week—simple and nutritious favorites that can be repeated over and over again. Unsure where to start? Try this method: Choose one or two breakfast options, two or three options for both lunch and dinner, and two or three snack options. A few ideas to choose from: Breakfast: Lunch or dinner: Snacks: 2. Before you head to the store, take inventory of what you already have on hand. Often, we default to going right to the grocery store without taking inventory of what’s already in our kitchen. It’s likely that you already have some ingredients that can be used in this week’s meals. If you have non-perishables like rice, pasta, canned goods, and snacks (such as nuts, popcorn, or crackers) or any frozen items, how might you combine or add these items to this week’s meals and snacks? 3. Browse coupons and various store promotions before you shop. Paying attention to current coupons and promotions—as well as purchasing in-season foods—can save […]

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What Americans Think About Food Production & Why Being Thankful Matters

Food and agriculture have always been intertwined, yet consumer awareness of that connection has shifted over time. For most of human history, farming was food—people saw firsthand how crops were grown, harvested, and brought to the table. As the food system modernized, everyday exposure to agriculture faded, and many consumers became increasingly removed from the origins of what they eat. Today, that distance is narrowing. More consumers want to understand not only what they eat, but also where it comes from and how it is produced. Curiosity about sustainability, production practices, and the broader food system continues to rise. The 2025 IFIC Food & Health Survey: A Focus On Food Production reflects this trend: Americans say that knowing the source of their food and having confidence that food will be consistently available in local markets are the top two food production-related factors influencing their purchasing decisions. Notably, interest in knowing where food comes from has risen significantly since 2017. Purpose In Picking Eating food carries meaning, so while interest in food origins may ebb and flow, it never truly disappears. Consumers increasingly recognize that producing and enjoying nourishing foods depends on a healthy environment. In our survey, nearly 6 in 10 Americans (59%) said it is important that the foods they purchase or consume are produced in environmentally sustainable ways. What does “sustainable” mean to Americans? Perception has evolved over time. In 2015, many associated a sustainable diet with eating balanced, nutritious meals. While nutrition is still a factor, its importance has decreased sharply, with Americans now more frequently defining sustainability through an environmental lens and favoring foods with a smaller carbon footprint, less waste, and a lower overall impact on the planet. Pride In Producing It has been an honor throughout my career to work on connecting the food, […]

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What To Do About Consumers’ Waning Confidence in the Safety of the Food Supply

The Struggle Is Real  With almost two decades of consumer insights stemming from the annual IFIC Food & Health Survey, I can’t stop thinking about consumers’ confidence (or lack thereof) in the safety of the food system. The chart below captures consumer responses from 2023 to 2012 when 78% of consumers said they were “somewhat/very confident in the safety of the U.S. food supply.” Fast forward to 2023, and we see that only 70% of consumers confess they are somewhat/very confident in the safety of the U.S. food supply. My biggest concern is that, in the past year, we have observed a significant drop in those that report they are very confident.       Building Back Confidence  Like many of my dedicated food safety colleagues, I am not ready to accept 70% confidence and ignore the 30% that are “unsure” (19%) or the 11% that are “not/not at all confident.” Confidence can be likened to the foundation of a building. It is strong and is built for the building to take shape and last for decades. Consumers who are confident in the safety of the food supply likely trust those who produce food, regulate food and sell food. Given my 28 years in food safety and risk communications, I think it’s fair to suggest that we all stop, take time to self-reflect and consider “what can I do to increase consumer confidence?”   The Work To Be Done  Included in this year’s IFIC Food & Health Survey, we wanted to glean insights regarding consumer confidence in the safety of the U.S. food supply. As a follow-up question about consumer confidence, we included “What would increase your confidence in the safety of the food supply?” Response options included a range of concepts including “food recalls” to “more information on the package.” […]

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Arsenic Fast Facts

Putting Arsenic In Food Into Perspective: What You Need To Know  The presence of heavy metals in food is not new. Arsenic, like most heavy metals, is naturally occurring and can be detected at trace levels in food. Heavy metals are found in soil, water, and air; they are not added to food. While arsenic may be detected in some plant-based foods, its presence remains extremely low. Still, overexposure to arsenic can cause adverse health effects.     The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the lead U.S. Agency for protecting the public from overexposure to arsenic in food. Initiatives like FDA’s Closer To Zero program are actively working to reduce exposure to arsenic and other heavy metals for all ages.   To reduce exposure to arsenic and other heavy metals through food as well as promote good health and nutrition, consumers should continue to eat a variety of nutrient-dense foods across and within the main food groups of vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy, and proteins.   What Is Arsenic? Arsenic is a naturally occurring element found in soil, water, and air. It can also be released into the air by industrial processes, tobacco smoke, burning of fossil fuels, and volcanic eruptions.    Arsenic compounds fall into three categories:  How Are Consumers Exposed To Arsenic? The primary human exposure to arsenic is through ingestion of inorganic arsenic-contaminated drinking water. Inorganic arsenic can be naturally occurring in groundwater; in certain locations, it can also enter groundwater through industrial processes, such as mining, fracking, coal-fired power plants, arsenic-treated lumber, and arsenic-containing pesticides. Arsenic levels tend to be higher in groundwater sources, such as wells, than surface sources, such as lakes or reservoirs.   Exposure to arsenic through food is generally less frequent; it is in crops grown in soil or groundwater contaminated by arsenic. Foods with higher levels […]

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IFIC Celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month and World Food Day: An Interview With Sylvia Meléndez Klinger

September 15th through October 15th marks National Hispanic Heritage Month, a special time during which IFIC seeks to recognize and connect with leaders in the world of Hispanic and Latinx food production and nutrition. This year, we spoke with Sylvia Meléndez Klinger DBA, MS, RD, a nutrition entrepreneur, educator, and author. In addition to writing cookbooks and scientific publications, Sylvia is an adjunct professor and the Professional Development Chair of the International Affiliate of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (IAAND). As a leading expert in cross-cultural nutrition and health issues, Sylvia offers deep insights on the impact of Hispanic heritage in our food system. Many non-Hispanic/Latinx consumers enjoy foods from that heritage—like maduros, guacamole, and arroz con pollo—but don’t know much about the links between Hispanic culture and widely available, nutritious food. What do you wish more people knew about Hispanic and Latinx foods available in the U.S.—and how these foods can contribute to building a healthy diet? Hispanic foods are incredibly nutritious, full of flavors, and colorful. The best part is that you can find many of these delicious foods in the U.S. When I think of Hispanic foods, I first gravitate towards beans. Canned beans are convenient, an excellent source of fiber and protein, and full of nutrients such as iron, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Many Latinx people love them and eat them according to their traditional recipes. For example, Mexicans often eat refried beans, Puerto Ricans prepare them as guisados (stewed), and people in the Dominican Republic eat beans for dessert as habichuelas con dulce. Other commonly eaten nutritious foods that are staples linked to Hispanic culture are mangos (which are high in fiber and vitamin C), oranges (which are rich in vitamin C), corn tortillas (which provide whole grains), and tomatoes (which are high in […]

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Go Further with Food: Nutrient Density

The first article in our “Go Further with Food” series focused on food waste. Now we turn our attention from throwing out less food to throwing in more nutrient-dense food to further our health. Food has a lot offer. It’s how we sustain life and it’s a big part of how we enjoy life too. But food can also present a conundrum. While it’s critical that we each get enough to eat, eating too much too often can be detrimental to health as well. And even if we consume the right amount of food, we also have to think about getting the right amount and types of nutrients. Striking the right balance between nutritional quality and calorie quantity, a ratio that describes the nutrient density of our diet, isn’t always easy to do. How do we know if something is nutrient-dense? Nutrient density can be a tricky concept to understand. Luckily, the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) has taken care of the definition of “nutrient-dense” for us. And as it turns out, it’s not just about the foods, but how they’re prepared as well. According to the DGA, “All vegetables, fruits, whole grains, seafood, eggs, beans and peas, unsalted nuts and seeds, fat-free and low-fat dairy products, and lean meats and poultry — when prepared with little or no added solid fats, sugars, refined starches, and sodium — are nutrient-dense foods.” How can you increase the nutrient density of your diet? Every food choice presents the opportunity to increase the nutrient density of our diet, but not everything we eat needs to be nutrient-dense. Rather, the goal is for the overall diet to be nutrient-dense. One way to do this is by thinking more critically while grocery shopping, since that’s where many of our eating patterns begin to take […]

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IFIC Recognizes World Food Safety Day 2020: Top Food Safety Facts to Keep in Mind

As we celebrated World Food Safety Day on June 7th this year—in the midst of a global pandemic—it’s now more important than ever for us to think about how to safely buy, prepare and serve our food. Indeed, COVID-19 has altered forever how we view the safe acquisition, handling, and management of our food supply. Recent IFIC data shows that about one-third of us (36%) are buying more packaged foods and thinking more about personal hygiene, with half of us (52%) washing our hands after going to the grocery store. Being invested in how our food is packaged and keeping our hands clean are not only important topics of concern during a pandemic; they also play key roles in reducing our risk of foodborne illness. In fact, one in ten people worldwide fall ill from contaminated food every year. In the United States, an estimated one in six Americans contract foodborne illness annually, leading to 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths. Here are four key tips for keeping ourselves and our food safe during the COVID-19 pandemic and for years to come: 1. Have smaller gatherings and events outdoors to promote social distancing. With kids out of school and summer rolling in, many of us may look to take vacations, visit friends and loved ones, or host or attend more social gatherings. Since the virus that causes COVID-19, like many other germs, spreads mainly through person-to-person contact, your most important line of defense against germ transfer is to practice appropriate social distancing. Keeping six feet apart, having fewer than ten people at your event, and attending gatherings outside are all ways to enjoy socializing in a safe manner. Another great way to minimize contact is to think about how food and beverages are served when gathering. When hosting or attending events, […]

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