Food-Industry Front Group: The International Food Information Council (IFIC)

The International Food Information Coouncil (IFIC) headlines its website: “We promote science-based information on nutrition, food safety and agriculture.” IFIC is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) education and consumer research organization that communicates evidence-based information on health, dietary patterns, ingredient safety and agricultural production. Our vision is a global environment where credible science drives food decisions.

April 1, 2023 | Source: Food Politics | by Marion Nestle

The International Food Information Coouncil (IFIC) headlines its website: “We promote science-based information on nutrition, food safety and agriculture.”

IFIC is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) education and consumer research organization that communicates evidence-based information on health, dietary patterns, ingredient safety and agricultural production. Our vision is a global environment where credible science drives food decisions.

I have long argued that any time you hear a food company or organization say it is “science-based,” you need to imagine a red warning flag flying into the air. The term unfailingly means do not criticize food products unless you can prove conclusively that they do harm. This, of course, is virtually impossible in populations that consume many different foods in meals from day to day.

IFIC lists health organization partners on its website. Finding out who funds it is not so easy.

IFIC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization governed by a Board of Trustees, the majority of whom are independent, academic researchers.