Turkey has joined the Safe2Eat campaign run by the European Food Safety Authority this year. Led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the campaign aims to raise awareness about food safety. Commenting on the issue, Ebru Akdağ, Chair of the Board of Directors of the BİTKİDEN Association and Food Engineer, said, “The campaign will increase food literacy, have an impact especially among children and young people, and create a scientific shield against food misinformation on social media.”
Turkey has joined the “Safe2Eat” campaign, implemented by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to raise awareness about food safety.
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı explained that the “Safe2Eat” campaign has been ongoing since 2020 by EFSA to raise awareness about food safety, adding, “Within the scope of the campaign, we will carry out information activities targeting consumers by focusing on specific themes to raise our citizens’ awareness about food safety.” he said.
THE FIGHT AGAINST INFORMATION POLLUTION WILL ALSO CONTINUE
Speaking about the Safe2Eat campaign, Food Engineer Ebru Akdağ said that the number of countries participating in the Safe2Eat campaign, which has been run by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for five years, has increased from 18 to 23, and that Turkey is participating in this campaign for the first time.
Akdağ said, “Turkey’s participation in this campaign shows that food safety is not only considered an area of technical control but also in terms of public health and public communication. This is both a strategic and a proud development for our country. Of course, the architect of this is the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Directorate General of Food and Control. With this work carried out in collaboration with EFSA, the Ministry demonstrates that it is not only a regulator but also a public communication actor playing an active role in combating misinformation.”
“A LARGE PORTION OF THE PUBLIC CANNOT PROPERLY READ FOOD LABELS”
Akdağ stated that it is quite meaningful that the Turkish Food and Beverage Industry Associations Federation (TGDF) is also a partner in this campaign, adding, “Conducting the campaign together with representatives of the private sector will both increase its implementation power and contribute to scientific messages reaching consumers through the right channels. A large portion of the Turkish population still cannot read food labels correctly; basic information such as additives, expiration dates, and storage conditions is either neglected or misunderstood. On the other hand, false content spreading rapidly on social media platforms can harm public health and discredit food producers. The Safe2Eat campaign is an important opportunity to counter these perceptions with scientific data.”
According to a study conducted by EFSA in collaboration with Ipsos, 70% of consumers in Europe are concerned about food safety, but only
According to a study conducted by EFSA in collaboration with Ipsos, Akdağ stated that 70% of consumers in Europe are concerned about food safety, but 60% find it difficult to understand the information, noting that a similar situation exists in Turkey.
Akdağ stated that the research conducted in collaboration with the FAO revealed that approximately 75% of consumers are interested in nutrition-related information; however, the comprehension rate may be lower.
“FOOD SAFETY WILL BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN PURCHASING DECISIONS THROUGH THE CAMPAIGN”
Food Engineer Ebru Akdağ said, “The campaign reached more than 50 million people across Europe in 2024, and 45% of the target audience recognized the campaign. (In 2023, this rate was 19%). We should also set such ambitious goals for ourselves. It was found that people who were aware of the campaign took food safety more into account in their purchasing decisions. These data clearly demonstrate the power of effective food communication to create changes in perception and behavior. A significant portion of the Turkish population does not read food labels and does not pay enough attention to basic information such as expiration dates and storage conditions. On the other hand, negative content spread through social media spreads much more than scientific data. Safe2Eat will reverse this perception by explaining scientific risk assessment in a language that everyone can understand,” he said.
WHAT WILL THE SAFE2EAT CAMPAIGN BRING TO TURKEY?
Akdağ listed the gains Turkey could achieve with the Safe2Eat campaign as follows:
• To increase food literacy, particularly among children and young people,
• Creating a scientific shield against food misinformation on social media,
• Ensuring consumers make informed choices when shopping at the supermarket,
• Preventing information pollution regarding health claims, additives, supplements, and allergens,
• Reducing food waste to achieve both environmental and economic gains.
Stating that the effective implementation of the Safe2Eat campaign in Turkey will directly impact not only the present but also the future, Akdağ said, “A healthy society begins with accurate information. A communication process that explains science in simple terms and is supported by a sense of trust can transform Turkey’s food safety culture.”
