Thursday, April 2, 2015 by Cheryl Baldwin

Everyday conversations about food are shifting from questions about whether to eat gluten or saturated fat to a new era in consumer food choices: sustainable diets. Some of this focus stems from recent findings reported by the federal government linking dietary choices to environmental impact and is bolstered by consumers’ awareness that their choices affect both their health and the environment. Consumers have long been seeking healthy food options and now the majority of consumers state that they intend to make changes in their diet for environmental reasons.

Companies have a significant role to play in helping consumers engage in sustainable eating. What are the guiding approaches for responsible corporations in this effort?

10 Principles Outline a More Sustainable Path

A new book, The 10 Principles of Sustainability in the Food Industry, outlines the top strategies for promoting sustainability in our food supply. The principles highlight approaches to producing food that is inherently healthy and more environmentally and socially responsible, with the tenth principle pointing to the interaction between the food industry and consumers.  Key practices include providing consumers with preferable food options and helping them select such options and reduce wasted food. Read more here.