• EIT Logo
  • University of Reading
  • EU Flag

Engaging with Controversies in the Food System

Become more confident in making informed decisions about the food you eat by exploring different food controversies.

6,166 enrolled on this course

Hands holding a knife and fork about to eat a plate of stick insects
  • Duration

    3 weeks
  • Weekly study

    3 hours
  • Accreditation

    AvailableMore info
The CPD Certification Service

This course has been certified by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to continuing professional development principles. Find out more.

Learn how to assess the reliability of different sources of food information

Consumers have never been confronted with so much food choice. Making a decision on what food to eat is affected by many factors, including media reports, diet research findings, and social media.

On this course, you’ll access leading research and expert insights to make sense of some of the most common food controversies - alternative proteins, palm oil, and probiotics.

You’ll understand the viewpoints of stakeholders and reflect on your own food preferences. By improving your knowledge of these food debates, you’ll build the confidence to make more informed decisions about food.

Download video: standard or HD

What topics will you cover?

Each week focuses on one controversy, explains what it is and how it is understood by differently situated stakeholders in the food sector. Learners are encouraged (as consumers) to take a critical stance on the different perspectives held by different stakeholders and adjust their practice accordingly.

Week 1: Introduction and Alternative Proteins

  • What do we mean by the term ‘controversies’?
  • Assessing the reliability of different sources of information.
  • Overview of alternative proteins (especially insects as protein for human consumption).
  • The pros and cons of alternative proteins and why they’re needed.

Week 2: Palm oil in food and related products

  • Discover the wide variety of products palm oil is found in.
  • Understand the issues at stake, from the perspectives of nutrition, the environment and worker welfare.
  • Find out how industry is adapting its practices.

Week 3: The use of probiotics

  • The history of probiotics and their benefits to human health.
  • Learn about the processes involved in probiotic development, from discovery to product certification.
  • Gain confidence in analyzing advertisements and health claims.

Who is this accredited by?

The CPD Certification Service
The CPD Certification Service:

The CPD Certification Service was established in 1996 and is the leading independent CPD accreditation institution operating across industry sectors to complement the CPD policies of professional and academic bodies.

When would you like to start?

  • Date to be announced

Add to Wishlist to be emailed when new dates are announced

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Demonstrate knowledge of three topical food controversies that affect human health, welfare and the environment
  • Reflect on your own food preferences and make better informed decisions about which products to buy for yourself and your family
  • Justify your choices and engage others, contributing to improvements in industry practice and an overall better understanding of the food system amongst consumers
  • Interpret news reports, apply critical thinking and be proficient at analysing media coverage of food controversies
  • Reflect on the perspectives of different stakeholders and recognise the myriad challenges and trade-offs such a complex system creates

Who is the course for?

This course is for anyone curious about what their food contains, and what this means for their health and the environment. Professionals in the food and environment sectors will find this course useful for providing an up to date analysis of topical debates. Teachers may also find this course a useful resource for their students studying food science subjects.

What do people say about this course?

Wonderful, informative and highly educational course!

"Wonderful, informative and highly educational course! It will definitely lead to a better perspective when analysing information to draw conclusions."

Who will you learn with?

I am an Associate Professor in International Rural Development. I trained as a social anthropologist. My research centres around understanding systemic change in agrarian environments.

I am a Senior Manager at the European Food Information Council. My role is creating science-based content on nutrition and health whilst leading communication activities for EU research projects.

I’m a professor in food microbiology at the University of Torino, Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences. My research focuses on food safety and microbial ecology of fermented foods.

Who developed the course?

EIT Food

EIT Food is Europe’s leading food initiative, working to make the food system more sustainable, healthy and trusted.

University of Reading

The University of Reading has a reputation for excellence in teaching, research and enterprise.

European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)

The European Institute of Innovation & Technology strengthens Europe’s ability to innovate by powering solutions to pressing global challenges and by nurturing entrepreneurial skills in Europe’s largest innovation ecosystem.

Endorsers and supporters

content provided by

University of Turin logo

content provided by

EUFIC logo

Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

Learner reviews

Learner reviews cannot be loaded due to your cookie settings. Please and refresh the page to view this content.

Get a taste of this course

Find out what this course is like by previewing some of the course steps before you join:

Do you know someone who'd love this course? Tell them about it...

You can use the hashtag #FLFoodControversies to talk about this course on social media.