By: Kimberly Reed, Executive Director, International Food Information Council Foundation

I was “wowed” by some of America’s future communicators during a recent national meeting of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), whose members are talented and engaged middle and high school student leaders.  Through this organization, which has more than 200,000 members in 6,500 chapters across America, students are given opportunities for leadership. The International Food Information Council Foundation presented 500 of these members with such an opportunity during four sessions in Albuquerque and St. Louis on everyone’s favorite topic: Food!

During interactive sessions, we discussed facts about modern food production, food processing, and technology.  The students enjoyed the thought-provoking Foundation short video called What’s for Lunch. We also highlighted the Foundation’s recently-released Understanding Our Food Communications Tool Kit, which includes a 13-page Leader Guide and five informational handouts, but first, we shared the history and role of processed foods.

Processed foods have a long history and presence in our world.  In fact, the three most important foods in Ancient Greece – bread, olive oil, and wine – were products of complicated processing.  At the start of our discussion, most students did not know that food processing includes any deliberate change in a food that occurs before it is available for consumption.  For example, processed foods can range from bottled water to packaged carrots to granola bars to snack cakes.  In addition, processing includes simple steps like freezing or drying to preserve a food’s nutrients and freshness,  as well as complex products such as frozen meals that combine nutrients and ingredients.  These foods offer various benefits for consumers, including improved safety, freshness, convenience, affordability, variety, and nutrition.  And, as the global population grows from 6+ billion today to more than 9+ billion by 2050, processed foods will play a very important role in feeding the world.  

At the end of the sessions, the students demonstrated through presentations they gave in front of their peers a comprehension of many interesting facts about food and the benefits of modern agriculture and the modern food supply.  The students learned that Americans of all ages need to “Focus on the facts!  Science is the sure way to good health.”  The International Food Information Council Foundation hopes to continue tour work with students, as they represent our future leaders and will be making important decisions to help feed our world.