MÜMSAD Launches Awareness Tour Against Misinformation in Food

The Kitchen Products and Margarine Manufacturers Association (MÜMSAD) is fighting food-industry myths with the power of science. To this end, it delivers educational lectures in the Nutrition and Dietetics and Food Engineering departments of universities. To date, MÜMSAD representatives participating in conferences at 60 universities across 30 cities throughout Turkey have reached more than 11,000 students. Among its principal objectives, the Kitchen Products and Margarine Manufacturers Association (MÜMSAD) works to combat misinformation and prejudices in the food sector, aiming to foster scientific thinking and awareness among students who are tomorrow's opinion leaders. To date, MÜMSAD representatives participating in conferences held at 60 universities across 30 cities throughout Turkey have engaged with more than 11,000 students.

"Dull Facts Against Appealing Myths"

MÜMSAD General Coordinator Ebru Akdağ, stating that they continue to give lectures across Turkey to counter misinformation in food, said: "The period we are in is marked by intense information bombardment, leading to information pollution and increasing public confusion. Food and beverages are among the topics most affected by misinformation. Through our 'Dull Facts Against Appealing Myths' conference involving students—the future opinion leaders—we seek to raise awareness among students about filtering information they acquire through a scientific lens. It is easy to fall into the trap of appealing myths; at best this brings economic consequences, at worst it carries health risks. What matters is pursuing reliable food, not trends and myths," he said.

From information pollution to balanced nutrition

In MÜMSAD's Dull Facts Against Appealing Myths conferences, general misinformation about food through various claims is addressed, and information pollution regarding the basic nutrient groups in the balanced nutrition plate is shared with participants through media examples and videos. Following the conferences, a question-and-answer session addresses student inquiries. In the past two years, MÜMSAD has visited Tekirdağ Namık Kemal University, Ankara University, Samsun Ondokuz Mayıs University, Giresun University, Gaziantep University, ODTÜ, Hacettepe University, Cyprus Near East University, Trakya University, Okan University, Kayseri Erciyes University, Nuh Naci Yazgan University, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Başkent University, Haliç University, Manisa Celal Bayar University, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Pamukkale University, Bolu İzzet Baysal University, Gelişim University, Çukurova University, Mersin University, İzmir University of Economics and Technology, Gazi University, and Bursa Karacabey University.