The Saskatchewan Institute of Agrologists will be hosting a presentation on the packaging labels seen in marketing food at the supermarkets.
"Consuming Information - Making Sense of Packaging Facts and Processing Perceptions" will take place Wednesday, March 20 from 7 to 9 p.m. at North Battleford Comprehensive High School. Admission is free and it is open to the general public.
According to Colleen Murphy of SIA, the idea was to have a speaker panel "which is around consuming information and taking in all the terms with marketing that comes at consumers, or with labels on food."
"There are key words that are used such as GMOs, organics, what does that all mean," said Murphy.
The plan is to have a speaker panel of three individuals with a wealth of knowledge on these topics and then open the floor to questions.
Those scheduled to be on the panel are:
Cami D. Ryan, PhD - independent research consultant, public speaker and professional affiliate at the Department of Bioresource Policy, Business and Economics - College of Agriculture and Bioresources, University of Saskatchewan;
Lisa F. Clark, PhD - research associate at the Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, U of S; and
Jill E. Hobbs, PhD - professor at the Department of Bioresource Policy, Business and Economics - College of Agriculture and Bioresources, U of S.
Murphy said the event is part of SIA's mandate to educate the general public on issues surrounding agriculture. The discussion is one that should appeal to the general public and not just to those in the food industry.
"Food safety and food in general is a huge concern to everybody," said Murphy. "Even though they're not directly involved in agriculture, we all need and depend on agriculture, and it's very important we relay the correct information and that people have access to the current information."
