Visiting fellow's seminar on healthier eating habits will examine novel (and fake) foods
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Email"I believe that policy recommendations should be scientifically based in order to help consumers choose food products based on real characteristics and not just slogans and false claims," says Dr. Giovanni Sogari.
EAST LANSING – Back by popular demand after having played to a standing-room-only crowd in Anthony Hall less than 18 months ago, Italian researcher Dr. Giovanni Sogari will highlight Homecoming Week in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition with a 2017 Seminar Series presentation on “Market Scenarios of Traditional and Novel Food Products in the European Context.”
Dr. Sogari’s seminar is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. Wednesday in Anthony Hall Room 1135.
"I believe that policy recommendations should be scientifically based in order to help consumers choose food products based on real characteristics and not just slogans and false claims," said Dr. Sogari. "Today's communication of food risks tends to be misleading."
Dr. Sogari has taken up residence in the Institute of Food Laws and Regulations suite (3385 Anthony) during his two-week visit from Cornell University (Ithaca, N.Y.), where he in conducting research for a project known as CONSUMEHealth. The objective of this European-based Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action (MSCA) is to understand what drives consumers to make healthier food choices and provide evidence-based recommendations for stakeholders and policymakers to develop and communicate innovative solutions for healthier eating habits.
“(IFLR Director) Neal Fortin and I have talked about the different approaches to food law between the EU and U.S.,” Dr. Sogari said. “I believe this collaboration will help me to better understand how the food law system works here (in the United States) and also allow me to share some insight about the European Union.”
This MSCA will consist of a two-year stay at Cornell so that Dr. Sogari can study behavioral economics via interviews and lab and field experiments (hypothetical and non-hypothetical), in addition to participating in workshops and courses on food consumer research methods.
Dr. Sogari, a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Food and Drug at the University of Parma, has a couple of key objectives he would to accomplish during the next 24 months.
“I am planning to organize public engagement activities, to publish a book intended for the public and papers in highly ranked peer-review journals that will benefit food scientists, agricultural economists and policymakers interested in healthy eating habits,” he said.
