By Kimberly Reed, Executive Director International Food Information Council Foundation Date: 4/4/11
Noting the importance of having a collective international resource of food-specific risk communication materials, we are pleased to announce the launch of the International Center of Excellence in Food Risk Communication and the Center’s new website: www.foodriskcommunications.org.
The Center provides government officials, health professionals, academicians, food producers, journalists, the public, and others with resources to better communicate and understand concepts, practices, research, and data about food safety, nutrition, and health.
The Center is a collaborative initiative among global food and health organizations, government agencies, academic institutions, and nonprofit communication experts to help ensure effective communication and informed decision-making about food risks from farm to fork.
Working closely with the International Partner Organizations, the International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation serves as the primary facilitator of the Center and manages its website.
The founding International Partner Organizations include:
Food Standards Australia New Zealand
Health Canada
International Food Information Council Foundation
Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
National Center for Food Protection and Defense
United States Department of Agriculture
The Center's Advisory Council consists of representatives from each of the International Partner Organizations who provide advice and resources on issues of importance.
The Center’s website also includes materials the World Health Organization, the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, and other leading academic institutions from around the world.
By convening credible and influential authorities and contributing to the international body of knowledge on food risk communication, the Center will help government officials, health professionals, academicians, food producers, journalists, the public, and other stakeholders better communicate and understand concepts, practices, research, and data about food safety, nutrition, and health.
Tragic incidents like the recent earthquake, tsunami and nuclear emergency in Japan and the ongoing concern about keeping the international food supply safe highlight the importance of the Center's focus on increasing the effectiveness of food risk communication, thereby enabling informed decisions about food safety, nutrition, and health. We look forward to the Center's development and future contributions for the public good.