SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
Americans face a flood of nutrition advice, yet many remain unsure which information to trust, according to recent coverage of the International Food Information Council’s 2026 Food & Health Survey.
FoodNavigator reported Oct. 8 that nearly eight in 10 respondents agreed that nutrition information appears to keep changing, making it difficult to know what to believe. That compares with 71% in 2022. The findings describe consumer perceptions, rather than demonstrating that established nutrition science changes with every new headline.
IFIC’s published methodology identifies an online survey of 3,005 U.S. adults ages 18 to 80, conducted March 22 through April 8, 2026. The research examines attitudes, beliefs and behaviors surrounding food and health.
The latest coverage also found declining self-assessments of health. Forty percent of respondents described their health as excellent or very good, compared with 49% in 2025. The survey does not establish that confusion about nutrition caused that decline.
Respondents indicated that clearer information could help. Nearly four in 10 selected facts about food safety and nutrition as the information that would give them the most confidence in their food choices. Others favored practical actions or scientific evidence.
For readers sorting through competing claims, the findings underscore the value of asking basic questions: Who produced the information? What evidence supports it? Does the advice account for individual health needs? Those questions can guide a conversation with a healthcare professional before a dramatic dietary change.