About The Center for Food Integrity

The Center for Food Integrity was established in 2007 to increase consumer trust and confidence in the contemporary U.S. food system. Our primary mission is to promote dialogue, model best practices, address issues that are important to consumers, and serve as a resource for accurate, balanced information about the U.S. food system.

We are a not-for-profit corporation, and we do not lobby or advocate individual food companies or brands.

Our member organizations represent each segment of the food chain, including farmers and ranchers, processors, and companies that deliver food products under local, regional and global brand names, and government. 

Building Trust and Confidence in the U.S. Food System

Brands – The New Agents of Social Change

Consolidation in agriculture, the food system and the advocacy community has created a perfect storm where brands are now replacing regulatory and legislative bodies as agents of social change. Global brands are establishing policies that impact agricultural production practices. The result is an entirely new environment where we have to consider new strategies and new ways of engaging to protect our freedom to operate.

We need to understand the new market environment and appreciate what drives the success of NGOs who frequently question what we do and the pressure they can exert on branded food companies.

The Power of Principles

Every NGO in the world is able to channel the passion of their members because they share a commitment to a common principle or belief. To compete at that level, we have to demonstrate our commitment to similar principles and shared values. We must fundamentally re-define who we are and what we do as driven by principle.

We have to shift the debate. We need to learn these new rules and position the food system for a successful future by building trust with those stakeholders who will grant the social license we need to grow and prosper. We need science to verify that we are principle driven, and we need effective, value-based public relations and communications to tell our story in a way that connects with our stakeholders giving them permission to believe that those of us engaged in food production share their values.

The Center for Food Integrity is an ideal setting in which to build a sustainable foundation of public trust in the food system. With the support of our members and other stakeholders, we can make it happen.

Let’s Get Started

We implement our trust model by engaging with food system leaders to build sustainable initiatives. We work with internal industry leaders to develop ethical standards and a code of conduct. This creates a platform for producers to communicate their commitment to shared values. It’s critical that we engage stakeholders to understand their needs and expectations and help them understand industry issues and the commitment to principles.

The Center for Food Integrity is not in the business of setting standards for the food system. We believe that over time we will be able to work with stakeholders to identify a group of principles that reflect a commitment to responsible food production. We want to highlight and promote those entities that operate in a manner consistent with those principles. In so doing, we will create a model for others to emulate.

Benefits of Membership in the Center for Food Integrity

Annual Consumer Trust Survey

This is a nationwide benchmark survey of current U.S. consumer opinion regarding trust in the contemporary U.S. food system. Who do consumers trust in relation to health and nutrition, food safety, worker care, the environment and food animal well-being? Who do they hold responsible? This research will be repeated each year, so our members can monitor progress and track potential issues.

Industry Outreach and Response

Another CFI objective is to amplify accurate food system information. We understand that some food system practices should be looked at with an open mind and, in order to build trust, we must be candid about the opportunity to improve. We also believe misinformation needs to be corrected. At CFI, it is our intent to establish a credible voice that consumers trust to provide accurate, balanced information about the food system. When food production practices come under attack, CFI will be there to counter misinformation.

Stakeholder Engagement

Providing strategic leadership for stakeholder dialog on key issues is perhaps CFI’s most important operating principle. CFI’s five focus areas are health and nutrition, food safety, worker care, the environment, and food animal well-being. We believe a forum must be provided for engaging stakeholders where these issues can be discussed and addressed across the chain without becoming brand specific. CFI will own the process and the outcome, so that participants have the liberty to engage or disengage based on the issue, outcome or unintended consequences.

CFI Annual Summit

CFI’s Annual Summit is designed to raise the overall level of discussion on food industry issues and have a conversation about current and emerging food industry concerns. Not only does this format provide a robust opportunity to discuss issues, it also enhances the development of food system relationships where we learn from each other.

CFI’s Summit Platform Statements

Best Practices Recognition and Communication

As the annual summit brings food system stakeholders together, we want to begin a recognition process that celebrates those who engage in best practices throughout the U.S. food system.

Sustainability Requires Balance

At CFI, we believe that sustainability requires a system to be ethically grounded, scientifically verified and economically viable. When those three elements operate in balance we can have a system that is sustainable and supported by stakeholders across the food system. CFI is committed to helping our members and the US food system build consumer trust and confidence by achieving this balance.

This model for sustainability was referenced recently in an online article written by McDonald’s executive Bob Langert. Langert is vice president for Corporate Social Responsibility at McDonald’s and pointed to this model which appeared in a column in Feedstuffs Newspaper entitled, “Sustainability Requires Balance.”

“Retail purchasers like McDonald’s need a broad understanding of the ethics, science and economics involved in the decisions we need to make,” wrote Langert. “Continuing to take this type of holistic and thoughtful approach will help us continue further along our own sustainability journey.”

Click here to contribute your thoughts or to follow Langert’s comments and others from McDonald’s as they discuss the importance of corporate social responsibility.

For more information contact:
Terry Fleck, Executive Director, Center for Food Integrity
Office: 317.432.3815
Email: terry.fleck@foodintegrity.org

If you are interested in learning more about membership benefits of CFI please complete the following and a representative will contact you: