International Trends in Food Literacy Studies

Abstract

  We investigated the contents of 86 research papers published between 2001 and 2019 to capture international trends regarding studies on food literacy. The number of research papers whose titles included the words “food literacy” increased every year from 2016 onward. Studies on food literacy were mainly produced in Australia, Canada and the United States. Research papers on food literacy were categorized into six types. From 2001 to 2019 studies shifted from a focus on establishing definitions and implementing educational programs to an examination of how food literacy actually permeates individuals' lives, and other societal factors. Very little research was conducted regarding the development of assessment tools, implementation, and evaluation of educational programs. Although a research paper written by Vidgen & Gallegos in 2014 was cited most often, there are various definitions of food literacy. The components of food literacy are various and highly interconnected. The results of this study also point to a need for developing more systematic instructional methodologies on food literacy.