Conceptual and practical issues of measuring food literacy: A cross-national view

Purpose: To present and discuss conceptual and practical aspects of the measurement of food literacy, drawing on Australian, Italian and Dutch research and experience of creating and testing food literacy measurement tools. Rationale: The term ‘food literacy’ is increasingly present in local, national and international public health nutrition and health education policies and plans. While the term has been in existence since the mid-1990s, it has become more prominent in recent years. Research by Vidgen and Gallegos in 2014 empirically defined the term and gave it conceptual clarity. Since this time, efforts have progressed towards its measurement, in an effort to ultimately describe and quantify its relationship to food intake. Moreover, the role of food literacy in promoting healthy behavior and self-efficacy in navigating the food system has been emphasized. To date, this assumed relationship has been unable to be tested. Given the prominence of food literacy in policy and subsequent resourcing of food literacy interventions in practice, measurement is an important next step in this field. Objectives: This symposium will: 1.Provide an introduction to food literacy, including how the term evolved, its representation in current research, policy and practice, its proposed relationship to food intake and the case for its measurement. 2.Explore the conceptual and practical complexities of developing a measure of food literacy, using the example of two research projects in Italy and the Netherlands. 3.Discuss the core attributes of an internationally applicable food literacy measure. Summary: This symposium will feature research and perspectives towards the measurement of food literacy, from three countries: Italy, the Netherlands and Australia. First researchers (presenters Palumbo and Poelman) from Italy and the Netherlands will present their work on the development and validation of a food literacy scale in their countries. Following this, Vidgen will present international work on the construction of a framework describing the consensus points that address key considerations and complexities associated with the development of a measure for food literacy. The discussant will highlight main findings, implications, and directions for future research, and facilitate the discussion. Format: Following a 5-minute introduction on food literacy by the chairperson (Vidgen), presenter Palumbo, Poelman and Vidgen will each give a 15-minute presentation. The discussant (Worsley) will then highlight the main findings, implications, and directions for future research that emerged from the presentations (5 minutes) and facilitate a discussion among the audience and presenters (20 minutes).