The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), a nonprofit scientific organization committed to advancing the science of food and its application across the global food system, will address the most challenging food safety issues – from food additives and GRAS to recalls and regulatory changes – at IFT FIRST: Annual Event and Expo, a food research, science, and technology event being held July 13-16, at McCormick Place in Chicago.
A keynote on Food Additives: Reformulation and Regulatory Challenges will share the latest perspectives on clean label and natural alternatives and the growing pressure for food and beverage manufacturers to reformulate products and replace synthetic additives, including colours, preservatives, and other functional ingredients. Featuring five experts across legal, regulatory, and consumer advocacy, the keynote will discuss the complexities of replacing synthetic additives – including costs, technical hurdles, scalability and what it will take for food companies to stay afloat in a rapidly changing food market.
Other key sessions at IFT FIRST will focus on GRAS (generally recognized as safe) regulations and the introduction of new food ingredients as well as navigating the FDA’s new era of food safety. A variety of scientific panels will address the role technology must play to enhance food safety, the food safety challenges having the biggest impact on public health, why food recalls are still so common, how international regulatory frameworks are impacting new food products, and addressing consumer confidence in food safety.
A pre-event workshop on “NextGen Food Safety: Bridging Farm to Table with Smart Tech Solutions” is being hosted by IFT’s Food Microbiology Division on July 12-13. Designed for agri-food professionals, the training will cover hazard analysis and critical control points, good agricultural practices, and the Food Safety Modernization Act, among other topics.
“Consumer expectations around food safety, transparency, and ingredient integrity are evolving, and the food system must rise to meet that demand,” said IFT CEO Christie Tarantino-Dean.
“At IFT FIRST, we bring together experts from across academia, industry, and government to tackle complex challenges head-on—and ensure that we’re not just keeping up with change but driving it.”
IFT FIRST unites experts throughout the science of food disciplines. Through scientific programming and multi-disciplinary discussions, IFT FIRST addresses the biggest issues impacting the food industry across novel technology and innovation, health and nutrition, sustainability and climate, food safety, and consumer insights. The expo floor features the latest food innovations and technologies, with food, health, and wellness companies launching or showcasing the products and solutions that will help usher in a new era of food.
This year, the latest food ingredient innovations will be on display, including Sensient’s butterfly pea flower extract. The industry’s first plant-derived natural blue source, butterfly pea flower extract was one of three natural food dyes recently approved by the FDA. Food safety companies such as Datacor will showcase software solutions that help food and beverage manufacturers uphold food safety and compliance standards.
Members receive special pricing to IFT FIRST. To learn more about becoming a member and taking advantage of networking and education opportunities year-round, email membershipinfo@ift.org.
