By: Jania Matthews Date: 1/11/12

The first week of 2012 has already flown by and food, health, and nutrition issues have been nothing short of top-of-mind discussions in the mainstream media and on social media platforms. 

It’s safe to say that today’s environment will lead to a lot of information and discussion pertaining to food. Questions like, “What’s healthful to eat?,”  “What information should the food label include and how much information should be on the package?, and questions relating to the safety of our nation’s food supply, all loom large from one year to the next. 

Still, we can expect to see some food-related topics receive more attention than others in 2012. A few of these topics will likely include the following: 

Food Safety: The risks associated with foodborne illnesses, chemicals in food and the Food Safety Modernization Act all point attention in the direction of food safety. While food safety may not garner any more or less attention than it did in 2011, absent a series of high profile events, certainly it’s a topic that continues to draw regular and sustained interest from consumers, media, and government officials. 

Dietary Guidance: Child nutrition, school food guidelines, and the health of adults will likely continue to gain national attention. With the  implementation of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans in full effect, we can expect to see new research and initiatives to  better understand and prevent the prevalence of such non-communicable diseases as obesity, blood pressure and heart disease, to name a few.  Providing consumers with the tools and information they need to help them live healthier lives is a high priority for many professionals.  

Farm Bill: An important piece of legislation that governs all farm, food and nutrition programs must be renewed every five years. The Farm Bill helps shape policy around several areas, including food stamps, research, economic development, conservation programs and more. It will certainly be interesting to see how this bill progresses takes shape in the midst of a serious push in Congress to cut spending. 

Technology Innovations: Technology continues to provide resources to aid consumers in their quest to become healthier. Mobile applications, the emergence of new websites and gadgets will only increase as people embrace technology as a source to assist with managing and maintaining their lifestyle. In addition, we will likely see news surrounding technology as it pertain to food. Utilizing food technology as a smart and healthful mechanism to feed a growing population is a discussion that will continue in 2012 and beyond.  

These are but some of the topics likely to gain media traction in 2012.  Undoubtedly, this year will deliver its share of surprises and without a doubt other topics will be added to this list. 

What areas within food, health, and nutrition do you foresee getting heightened attention this year?