EUFIC
The European Food Information Council (EUFIC) is a consumer-oriented non-profit organisation,[1] founded in 1995 to help make the science behind food and health more accessible and easier to understand. Based in Brussels, Belgium, its mission is to produce science-based content to inspire and empower healthier and more sustainable diets and lifestyles among European citizens.
| Formation | 1995 |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-profit organisation |
| Focus | Food and health science, consumer-oriented communication |
| Location |
|
Director General | Laura Fernández Celemín |
Main organ | Board of Directors (12 representatives) |
| Website | www.eufic.org |
EUFIC communicates science-based information on a wide range of food and health topics, such as nutrition and lifestyle, food safety and quality, sustainable food and food risk communication. EUFIC's work to improve people's understanding of food and health science focuses on three core pillars:
- leveraging peer-reviewed science and the resources of authoritative bodies such as the World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and European authorities
- providing actionable advice on healthy nutrition and lifestyle, food safety and sustainability
- educating on how to critically assess food and health claims made in the media
Scientific integrity and impartiality sit at the core of EUFIC’s work. An independent Scientific Advisory Board guides EUFIC's work ensuring that materials reflect the scientific consensus.
EUFIC chooses its topics based on scientific relevance, importance to public health and the state of the public debate.
EUFIC's in-house consumer scientists help the EUFIC team and network better understand consumers’ attitudes and behavior towards food, and strengthen the consumer focus of its work.
The Brussels-based organisation brings its resources to the public via several outreach channels – in particular social media platforms, as well as through collaborations with a wide network of authoritative partners in the food and health space.
Collaborations
EUFIC operates as part of several consortia funded by the European Commission framework programmes as well as EIT Food and has long-standing collaborations with organisations such as the European Federation of the Associations of Dietitians (EFAD) and the European Association for the Study of Obesity (EASO).
EUFIC is also actively involved in the European Nutritional Leadership Platform (ENLP), developing and connecting the next generation of leaders in food and nutrition.
History of EUFIC
1995 – 2000 Birth of EUFIC as an internet pioneer
EUFIC was founded in 1995 with the mission to provide opinion formers (such as food information institutes, consumer associations, governmental authorities, health professionals, teachers and the media) with clear, scientific and easily comprehensible information’, and therewith help improve public knowledge of matters related to nutrition and health.
In 1997 EUFIC became a pioneer of food information on the internet, now making its resources also directly available to consumers. With at that time only about 1 million websites online across the world, EUFIC was one of the first ones providing sound information on food online.
EUFIC's first director, Anna Jung, led EUFIC until 2005.
2001 – 2005 CoolFoodPlanet.org and HONcode certification
In 2001 EUFIC founded the webpage CoolFoodPlanet.org, an interactive learning tool for children.
EUFIC obtained the HONcode certification,[2] which verifies that content complies with a multi-stakeholder consensus on standards, to protect citizens from misleading health information, in March 2004. Health On The Net (HON) is a non for profit organisation that promotes transparent and reliable health information online.
2006 – 2010 Scientific publications, partnerships & multimedia
In 2006 EUFIC published its first scientific publications: Jung A. Quo Vadis Food Risk Communication?, Fernández-Celemín L, Jung A. What should be the role of the media in nutrition communication?. The same year, Dr Josephine Wills started as EUFIC director, and led EUFIC until 2014.
In 2009 EUFIC organised a workshop in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on food-based dietary guidelines. 14 EU countries participated.
EUFIC re-launched its website in 11 languages in 2010.
2011 – 2015 Stronger consumer focus and launching into social media
In September 2011, the EUFIC Facebook page was launched as the first of EUFIC's social media channels.
In 2012, Twitter and YouTube accounts followed, as well as a new version of the CoolFoodPlanet.In 2015 EUFIC launched the Speaking up for Science Action Network (SuSAN), bringing together a group of European experts committed to addressing fake news and misinformation in the media.
Dr. Laura Fernández Celemín became EUFIC director in 2015, and still leads the organisation today.
2016 – 2020 Consumer-friendly content in a fast-changing environment
EUFIC adds @SciFoodHealth as its second Twitter account. This account publishes mainly news from the EU and EIT Food projects EUFIC is involved in.
In 2017, EUFIC signed up to the EU Transparency Register.
In 2018, EUFIC collaborated in FAO's Global Initiative on Food Waste and Loss.
In 2019, EUFIC received the European Association Awards for "Best Digital Campaign" for its "Hungry for Whole Grain" campaign.[3]
With Instagram, EUFIC expanded its online presence to yet another popular social media outlet in 2020, reaching as many as 11,000 followers in less than a year.
In 25 years, EUFIC has published 107 scientific publications, 59 of which are peer-reviewed.
Funding and transparency
EUFIC is an independent non-profit organisation, registered under Belgian law as an AISBL (Association internationale sans but lucratif) under number 0456 866 931.
In 2020, 66% of EUFIC funding came from public sources, 33% from membership and 1% from commissioned research.
EUFIC's annual accounts are reviewed and approved by formally recognized external financial auditors. Audited accounts are published annually in the Central Balance Sheet Office.
EUFIC is listed on the EU Transparency Register: TR ID 248894041414-94
EUFIC governance
EUFIC characterises its governance with the values of transparency, inclusivity and scientific integrity. The individuals serving on its governance bodies represent the four sectors that are key to the improvement of public health through the communication of science: the scientific community, healthcare and science communications practitioners, the private sector, and civil society.
All representatives serving on EUFIC governance bodies fulfil their roles in their personal capacity and without remuneration. All representatives are committed to EUFIC's operating principles, code of conduct and sign an annual conflict of interest declaration.
EUFIC's accounts are audited yearly and published in the annual report of the organization.
References
- "EUFIC". www.eitfood.eu. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
- "HONConduct327290 - The European Food Information Council (EUFIC) - HONcode certificate: The health website respects the eight HONcode principles". www.healthonnet.org. Retrieved 2021-09-05.
- "EURACTIV Press Release Site". EURACTIV PR. Retrieved 2021-09-05.