Last week I came across an interesting organization called the International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation, which deals with connecting science and communications for the betterment of consumer health. According to the Foundation’s website:
IFIC’s purpose is to bridge the gap between science and communications by collecting and disseminating scientific information on food safety, nutrition and health and by working with an extensive roster of scientific experts and through partnerships to help translate research into understandable and useful information for opinion leaders and ultimately, consumers.
Last week, IFIC had a webcast going over the findings from their recent 3rd Annual IFIC Foundation Food & Health Survey: Consumer Attitudes Toward Food & Health. You can see the re-broadcast of the webcast here.
I was very happy that I found out about this event because it really opened my eyes up to consumer thoughts on what they were eating. I took a Consumer Behavior class in college while getting my Public Health degree and I learned a ton about what influences our decisions on what we put in our mouths. In an a society where some thing might be good for you one month and detrimental to your health in another, it’s important to look at these trends.
In the health communications world, it is vital to understand what “clicks” with target audiences. One of the points covered during the webinar was the Food Pyramid – where have YOU seen the MyPyramid chart?
Now what do these results tell you? Especially the last place people have seen it…right, they haven’t. That means we have to do a better job of getting this information out to the general public. In mid 2005, the new MyPyramid.gov website was launched with intentions to upgrade the aging symbol of what we should eat. Unfortunately, since then, it doesn’t appear that the website has done much in the way of changing minds on nutrition. A great point was made by Andy Carvin on this issue soon after the launching of the website.
However, other messages are becoming relatively clear for many Americans. See below for what I mean:
Maybe we need to take another look at where people are seeing their health information? Those MyPyramid.gov survey results have me thinking about not only the importance of relevant health communications but another interest of mine, in closing the digital divide. What’s the point in having all of these web technologies if the people who need it, don’t get it? Literally and figuratively…
To see more of the slides from the IFIC Foundation Webcast as well as past surveys, check out the website.
