Member’s Newsletter - August 2025

This edition reflects the diversity at the heart of EUFIC’s work! New findings from the RESTRUCTURE project reveal that the texture of ultra-processed foods can influence how quickly we eat—and how much we consume. Other highlights include our Navigating Nutrition and Diet Trends webinar, which will explore viral food trends and nutrition misinformation; new research on how nutrition professionals perceive plant-based dairy alternatives; practical tools for people living with type 2 diabetes; a closer look at how environments contribute to obesity; and fresh inspiration from our ongoing efforts in sustainable food systems.

Upcoming events

The Cook2DIABeat Symposium: Recipes for Living with Type 2 Diabetes –27 August (Brussels)

NCDs

The symposium will present the new Cook2DIAbeat e-learning platform: an evidence-based, easy to use digital space, made by and for people living with type 2 diabetes. Register here!

A Recipe for Trust: Food, Data and Our Choices – DRG4FOOD and FOODITY Final Conference – 22 -23 October 2025 (Brussels)  

food literacy

If you are an SME, researcher, or investor in digital technologies related to the food system, don’t miss this two-day event! During the conference, we will showcase innovative solutions from the DRG4FOOD and FOODITY pilot projects in food tracking, targeted nutrition, and consumer food choices, with opportunities for networking. You will also gain insights from three years of research through presentations and panel discussions with European experts! 

DRG4FOOD announce the final conference of 3 years projects dedicated to research on the relationship between food and data and how to create a trustworthy digital food system! Register here.

Highlights from latest EUFIC campaigns 

June – food safety

IMAGE: food safety image, you choose :)

• Articles | How strong is the scientific evidence?
• Social Media | How to tell if a nutrition claim is misleading

July – food labelling

IMAGE: food labelling image, you choose :)

• Article | Europe’s obesity statistics: figures, trends & rates by country
• Social Media | 10 healthy lifestyle tips for adults

What was our team up to?

• 2 Apr – Carlos Abundancia took part in the last day panel discussion ‘A common strategy: How to increase the Whole Grain Consumption’ at the 8th International Whole Grain Summit in Detmold, Germany. 10 key priorities where identified at the event.
• 8 Apr – Nina McGrath moderated a session of an event at the EU Parliament organized by Edenred:  Decent and healthy eating amid rising prices .
• 10-11 Apr –Betty Chang attended ETP Food for Life Expert Network workshop to update Implementation Action Plan for the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA 2024).   
• 11 Apr – Giulia Gaggiotti presented EUFIC and social media in nutrition & health at the Conference of nutritionists (biologists) University of Catania and Association of biologists (Sicily).    
• May 15 – Betty Chang presented which policies and regulations have been effective in promoting healthy eating and/or reducing unhealthy eating at the European Health Forum Gaste, and how the EU can support such an approach via member states, impact: networking – will keep in contact with Karolina Konarzewska, Health Attaché, Permanent Representation of Poland to the EU and DGRTD policy officer Francesco Florindi (health industry) for Infoodmation.
• 21-22 May – Betty Chang took part in a panel at the the Food&Agr NEXT Summit in Wageningen, The Netherlands on catalysing food innovation. The summit attracts a broad range of stakeholders, start-ups, investors and leading corporates, tackling ‘Transforming Food Systems addressing consumer preferences and complex policy environment’.   
  
  If you want to learn more about any of these events, don't hesitate to reach out to membership@eufic.org ! 

New EUFIC Science Communication Trainings – Autumn 2025

IMAGE: Science communication image? Can look like some one is giving a training?

Want to make your research resonate? This autumn, EUFIC is offering live, interactive online trainings to help food, nutrition, and health professionals turn complex science into clear, engaging messages.

With 30+ years of expertise and a track record of training the European Parliament, Commission, and leading universities, our sessions focus on practical skills, real-life examples, and personalised feedback.

Dates & Topics

• 14 Oct, 10:00–12:00: Effective science communication – audience targeting, message framing, jargon-busting, and communicating numbers.
• 17 Nov, 15:00–17:00: Core principles + using social media effectively.

Price: €50 per training (VAT incl.). EUFIC members get 40% off.
Limited to 30 participants. Book early!

Interested in offering regular training to your staff or students? Contact Elisangela Rosario, Membership and Funding Manager at EUFIC, to explore membership options. 

Resources from our projects and initiative

Insights from EUFIC’s latest consumer research - Attitudes of nutrition professionals towards plant-based dairy alternatives (Alpro project)  

plant-based 

The full results of the survey are now available! EUFIC recently conducted an online survey to examine how nutrition professionals in Spain and Portugal feel about plant-based dairy alternatives. The study looked into general beliefs and knowledge around these products, current uses in professional practice, and attitudes towards including these products in national dietary guidelines.

Understanding how nutrition professionals feel about plant-based dairy alternatives and which factors influence their attitudes towards these products can inform communication and product positioning strategies to help professionals incorporate these products in their recommendations. (UPDATE WITH NEW WORDING FROM KATERINA, ONCE APPROVED BY DANONE)

Cook2DIAbeat – Symposium and e-learning platform — Recipes for living with type 2 diabetes 

NCDs

Healthy eating is essential for managing type 2 diabetes and improving quality of life. But finding reliable, engaging, and practical tools tailored to people with diabetes isn’t always easy. Therefore, the Cook2DIAbeat platform was developed: a free, inclusive e-learning platform incorporating the latest research from culinary medicine. It is created with people living with type 2 diabetes, not just for them. 

With videos, recipes, and easy-to-follow courses, the platform helps users develop healthy cooking and eating habits grounded in real-life needs and preferences. EUFIC supported the research and development of the platform, ensuring that the content is evidence-based, accessible, and empowering. Whether you are a health professional or someone managing type 2 diabetes, Cook2DIAbeat offers practical tools to support long-term health in the kitchen. After three years of research, the Cook2DIAbeat platform was officially launched during a hybrid event in Madrid in the presence of all partners. 

Members are welcome to attend the hybrid Cook2DIAbeat symposium on the 27th of August in Brussels where the Dutch and French version of the e-learning platform will be presented alongside interesting presentations of diabetes professionals, registration information coming soon. These presentations will include talks from various health care professionals on the importance of food in managing type 2 diabetes, the significance of integrated care, and testimonies about the role of patient centred organizations. 

Infographic: The Role of Our Environments on Obesity (BETTER4U) 

obesity

Obesity rates across the globe are rising continuously over the past decades. Despite lots of research on the topic, current approaches to address this complex and multifactorial disease often fail. Obesity is influenced by far more factors than just food and movement. We need to understand the how all factors, genetic, physiological, environmental and social factors, work together and create personalised solutions that put the people in the centre. 

EUFIC created a new infographic for the BETTER4U project, uncovering an often overlooked factor of the obesity development – our environments. These so called obesogenic environments are caused by many factors. Addressing them can help society to create healthier environments and support people living with obesity. 

This infographic helps members understand how environments shape obesity risk, offering fresh insights for designing more effective health strategies, campaigns, or interventions. It’s a practical tool to support evidence-based communication and policy work. 

Membership news

A kind reminder that EUFIC invites members to register to the Face to Face Members Meeting in Brussels on September 16th, you can view the agenda and register here!

The EUFIC Team (Elis Rosario and Nina McGrath) will attend the ICN Paris between August 25th and 28th, and they would be delighted to meet members, which are also attending the event. We are sure we can grab a coffee or tea in between the plenary sessions. If you are attending, please let us know which days and we will do our best to find you there. Feel free to send us an email (EUFIC Membership Program - membership@eufic.org ) indicating the dates that you might be available for a quick chat during the ICN Paris.  

A reminder that materials from both our members and food safety meeting are available upon request through membership@eufic.org.