Source: Tom Vilsack, US NEWS & WORLD REPORT, 1/30/18

Editor's Note: Tom Vilsack is a former Iowa governor and U.S. agriculture secretary who now serves as CEO and president of the U.S. Dairy Export Council.

For the food industry, 2017 was the year of the label. Whether 'non-GMO' or 'no high fructose corn syrup', 'no added hormones' or 'gluten free,' consumers are increasingly demanding more information about what's in their food. A report last fall by Nielsen found that 39 percent of consumers would switch from the brands they currently buy to others that provide clearer, more accurate product information. Additionally, 73 percent reported feeling positively about brands that share the "why behind the buy" information about their products. 

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