IFIC Foundation Staff | Trustees | Partners and Supporters | Guiding Principles | FAQs | Careers
Our Mission
The International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation is dedicated to the mission of effectively communicating science-based information on health, nutrition and food safety for the public good.
Our Vision
Our vision is a global environment where credible science drives food policy and consumer choice.
Our Philosophy
We subscribe to Ten Guiding Principles as we work to help improve the health and well-being of individuals, families and communities.
Our Standards
Incorporated as a public education organization in 1991 and based in Washington, DC, the International Food Information Council Foundation is formally recognized as a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit under the U.S. Tax Code. We do not lobby or further any political, partisan, or corporate interest. We maintain certain standards to assure our commitment to science-based information. Please see our Frequently Asked Questions section for additional information.
Our Stakeholders
We bring together, work with, and provide information to consumers, health and nutrition professionals, educators, government officials, and food, beverage, and agricultural industry professionals. We have established partnerships with a wide range of credible professional organizations, government agencies, and academic institutions to advance the public understanding of key issues. For example, we have a long-standing relationship with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion as part of the Dietary Guidelines Alliance, a public-private partnership focused on the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the MyPlate Food Guidance System.
Recognizing the global nature of food safety, nutrition, and health issues, the Foundation extends its mission internationally. We share education materials with an independent network of Food Information Organizations and partners from around the world.
We also serve as a news media resource. We provide science-based information to the media and refer journalists to our 350 independent, credentialed experts on a variety of nutrition and food safety topics.
Our Work and Impact
The following examples demonstrate the variety of valuable programs, initiatives, and products that we offer to deliver impact.
Our website serves as a nutrition and food safety resource for consumers, health professionals, journalists, educators, government officials, and students. We provide important, timely, and consumer-friendly resources on a variety of topics such as weight management, diet and health, food safety, food production, international food issues, and science communications.
We leverage a variety of technologies to reach consumers, and our social media followers—on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn—are in the tens of thousands.
Our Food Advocates Communicating Through Science (FACTS) Network is a global, interactive network of tens of thousands of people, formed to offer clarification on the growing tide of deceptive advice and misleading statistics that define a large portion of today’s food and nutrition dialogue. Made up of scientists, healthcare experts, food advocates, and consumers, FACTS provides scientific conclusions and compelling insight from experts, correcting common misperceptions about modern food production, food safety, nutrition, health and wellness. Click here to join our FACTS Network.
We help our stakeholders stay up-to-date on the latest research and trends. With thousands of subscribers, our regular Food Insight email newsletter contains information-packed articles and news.
We conduct consumer research on public opinion about food safety, nutrition, and health and share the results with stakeholders and the public. Our annual IFIC Foundation Food & Health Survey provides information about how Americans connect the food they eat with their health. Recent surveys have explored topics such as healthy aging, feeding children birth to 24 months, GMO labeling and online shopping. The survey results also help shape public health communication and education initiatives, and can help measure progress toward public health goals.
We strive to educate consumers about the entire food system, from farm to fork. Our Understanding Our Food Initiative helps communicate the facts about modern food production, food processing, and processed foods, and guides consumers and clients to make the best food choices for their overall health and lifestyles. We make available free educational curricula, including for K–8 teachers about “The Science of Feeding the World” and Grades 7-10 teachers on “Bringing Biotechnology to Life.”
As a public education foundation, we are committed to helping the next generation of nutrition and food safety communicators. The Sylvia Rowe Fellowship Award, named in honor of our former President and CEO, was established to give promising students and recent graduates a six- to twelve-week paid internship at our offices in Washington, D.C., in order to enhance their capabilities and communication skills.
Website Content and Advertising
All content on this website is non-commercial. The IFIC Foundation does not accept any paid advertising (links, banners, content, etc.) for FoodInsight.org. All content is written, edited and reviewed by the staff of the IFIC Foundation. Any questions about the content of this website should be directed to the website administrator.