The Italian food industry is appreciated worldwide and has undoubtedly brought economic advantages, with exports in 2017 having grown by more than six percentage points, for a volume of almost €32 billion. However, some critical issues exist that require the constant presence of Food and Nutrition Hygiene Services (SIAN) of the Local Health Authorities (LHAs) which, together with other key players, including the Veterinary Services (SV), constitute the backbone of integrated competencies for the protection and promotion of community health. In Italy, controls in the food industry are very complex, involving not only the SIAN and the Veterinary Services of the LHAs (as local competent authority for food safety), but also the Central Inspectorate against frauds, specialized "Carabinieri" Command Departments (NAS AND NAC ), State Forestry Corps, Port Authorities and "Guardia di Finanza", Border Inspection Posts (PIF), Frontier Air Transport Offices (USMAF), the Customs and Monopolies Agency, as well as, for analysis of foods samples, the National Health Institute ("Istituto Superiore di Sanità"), Public Health Laboratories and Experimental Zooprophylactic Institutes. Data published by the Italian Ministry of Health show a decreasing trend in the number of checks carried out by the LHAs, probably due to implementation of increasingly targeted controls, based on risk analysis, and by a progressive reduction of staff. We describe data up to the year 2018, obtained from the survey on the "State of the Art" of the SIAN (structures, staff, activities, etc). In view of the existing complex system of official controls, consumers have a need, often unexpressed, to receive clear information on the quality of food, the ingredients contained in food, and on recent updates regarding food and nutritional safety, in order to make more informed choices and have greater awareness of individual responsibilities for one's health. However, many preventive and health promotion activities implemented by these services remain largely unknown to citizens. The authors believe that all SIANs must take an active role in communication to consumers, so that they receive clear and science-based information, in order to promote informed choices for the protection of their health. This has become increasingly important considering the large number of information channels that do not communicate according to ethical and professional criteria.