The International Food Information Council, also known as Food Insight, was formed in 1991; its mission is to effectively and transparently share science-based information on a variety of topics from food safety to health and nutrition. It says it delivers on its mission by remaining impartial and not aligning itself with any particular brand, product, company or industry. While primarily a US-based entity, it is also part of an independent network of Food Information Organisations from around the world – in South Africa it works with the Food Advisory Consumer Service (FACS) and the South African Association for Food Science and Technology (SAAFoST).

In its quest to keep the public comprehensively informed, articles cover diet and health; fitness and wellness; food labelling; food production and manufacturing; food safety; food technology; ingredients and nutrients; international issues; and sustainability. In addition to these diverse and informative subjects, Food Insight also publishes an annual Food and Health Survey which each year is based on those topics that were found to be of greatest interest to consumers – the next N1 blog will take a closer look at these surveys. It also provides a platform for Food Advocates Communicating Through Science (FACTS) ‘a global, interactive network formed to combat the growing tide of deceptive advice, misleading statistics and alarmist tactics that define much of today’s food and nutrition dialogue’.

Apart from data studies, articles and newsletters, it also publishes the odd Q&A, and earlier this month it was the turn of South African Olympic swimmer, Gideon Louw, to be interviewed about the role he believes nutrition plays in excelling athletically. A participant in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, and currently a swimming coach at the University of Minnesota, Gideon lists his favourite pre and post swimming food choices, and says that the biggest misconception or myth he keeps hearing about nutrition is ‘the more protein, the better’. He goes on to say it’s all about portion size and an even distribution of protein throughout the day to ensure maximum performance.

While no organisation, no matter how noble the intent, is completely above reproach, it does help to have bodies like Food Insight to turn to when health ‘facts’ – created, crowned and crushed all in the time it takes to refresh our news feeds – too often abound, masquerading as science. So, when in doubt, turn to sites like the International Food Information Council and Authority Nutrition to help you separate the wheat from the chaff.