New guide helps navigate scientific research with confidence and clarity

EU Specialty Food Ingredients has launched a practical new digital guide — Behind the Evidence: How to Interpret Scientific Research — designed specifically to help food manufacturers and ingredient professionals make sense of the science behind their products.

In an era where research is widely accessible and often misquoted, this booklet offers a clear introduction to core scientific concepts, explains the differences between study types, and provides tools to spot misinformation. Whether you’re formulating new products, communicating with customers, or reviewing supplier claims, understanding how to interpret evidence is essential to making informed, responsible decisions.

The guide is tailored for professionals who may not have formal scientific training but need to engage with research regularly. It includes a handy checklist for evaluating studies, helping teams avoid common pitfalls like sensationalised claims or misinterpreted data.

Saskia Kliphuis, president of EU Specialty Food Ingredients, explains: “Our goal is to raise the quality of science communication across the food sector. This guide gives our members — and the wider industry — a reliable compass for interpreting studies responsibly. Science evolves, but its foundation is rigorous evidence. That’s what we want to champion.”

For food makers working with specialty ingredients, functional claims, or nutritional innovation, Behind the Evidence is a timely resource to support transparency, credibility, and better decision-making.

The booklet “Behind the evidence – How to interpret scientific research” is available for download here.