The International Food Information Council (IFIC) recently published a consumer research report, Public Perceptions of Processed Foods, measuring consumers’ knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about processed foods.
“From public health to pop culture, we have seen a significant increase in interest surrounding processed foods in recent years,” says Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, IFIC president and CEO. “Much of the controversy results from classification systems utilized in scientific literature to categorize foods based on level of processing versus nutrition or other food attributes. Amidst the emerging evidence and headlines, current scientific consensus and the consumer perspectives are often excluded. As an educational nonprofit sitting at the intersection of science, food, and the consumer, we believe exploring consumer insights on processed foods is timely, needed, and important.”