Institute of Food Technologists

The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) is an international, non-profit scientific society of professionals engaged in food science, food technology, and related areas in academia, government and industry. It has more than 17,000 members from more than 95 countries.

Institute of Food Technologists
Non-profit
Founded1939 (1939)
HeadquartersChicago, Illinois
Websitewww.ift.org

History

Early history

As food technology grew from the individual family farm to the factory level, including the slaughterhouse for meat and poultry processing, the cannery for canned foods, and bakeries for bread, the need to have personnel trained for the food industry did also. Literature such as Upton Sinclair's The Jungle in 1906 about slaughterhouse operations would be a factor in the establishment of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) later that year. The United States Department of Agriculture was also interested in food technology, and research was already being done at agricultural colleges in the United States, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and the University of California, Berkeley.[1] By 1935, two MIT professors, Samuel C. Prescott and Bernard E. Proctor decided that it was time to hold an international conference regarding this.[2] A detailed proposal was presented to MIT President Karl Taylor Compton in 1936 was presented with $1500 of financial aid from MIT for a meeting to be held from June 30 to July 2, 1937 with Compton asking how many people would be in attendance at this meeting. Prescott replied with "fifty or sixty people." 500 people actually attended the event.[2]

This meeting proved so successful that in early 1938 that a second conference would be held in 1939. Initially led by George J. Hucker of the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station (part of Cornell University) in Geneva, New York, a small group meeting was held on August 5, 1938 on forming an organization with an expanded group meeting in New York City on January 16, 1939 to further discuss this.[3] The second conference was held at MIT June 29 to July 1, 1939 with Proctor as conference chair. 600 people attended this event. At the final session, the chairman of the session Fred C. Blanck of the United States Department of Agriculture, proposed that an organization be established as the Institute of Food Technologists. This was approved unanimously. Its first officers were Prescott as President, Roy C. Newton of Swift & Company in Chicago, Illinois as Vice President, and Hucker as Secretary-Treasurer.[3] By 1949, IFT had 3,000 members.

Growth

Regional sections were established in IFT as early as 1940 in northern California (San Francisco, Bakersfield, Sacramento).[4] The first IFT Award, the Nicholas Appert Award was established in 1942 by IFT's Chicago section with additional awards being established since then. For the first ten years, IFT officers were President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer. In 1949, IFT moved into offices in Chicago and created a permanent position of Executive Secretary to run daily organizational operations. Retired U.S. Army Colonel Charles S. Lawrence was named the first Executive Secretary, a position he would hold until 1961 when he was replaced by Calvert L. Willey. During Willey's term as Executive Director (Executive Secretary 1961–1966), IFT would grow from 6,000 members in 1961 to 23,000 members in 1987.[5] Additionally, IFT Divisions were established in 1971 with the Refrigerated and Frozen Foods Division being the first.[6] The IFT Student Division was established in 1975, and was reorganized in 1984 to be the IFT Student Association with the chairperson serving as a member of the IFT Board of Directors.[7]

Today

The governing body of IFT consists of a Board of Directors made up of the President, President-Elect, Immediate Past-President, Treasurer, Student Association President, Student Association Immediate Past President, IFT Foundation Chair, and Executive Vice President, along with twelve board members. IFT also communicates with the news media, using sixty scientists to discuss the scientific perspective on food issues.[8] IFT is also active in the international level by its membership in the International Union of Food Science and Technology, headquartered in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.[9][10] Education has always been a focus of IFT, going as far back as 1941, with the desire to have uniform education standards in food technology.[11] Education standards for undergraduate students were approved by IFT in 1966 for food science and technology. These standards were revised and updated in 1977, 1992, 2001, and 2011. Today, IFT sits on the advisory council for the International Food Protection Training Institute.

IFT Annual Meeting & Food Expo

IFT largest in-person gathering is IFT’s Annual Meeting & Food Expo.[12] This event, which offers more than 100 scientific and applied education sessions and an expo featuring 1,000+ exhibiting companies, regularly attracts 23,000 food professionals from more than 90 countries.

Certification

IFT offers the Certified Food Scientist (CFS) designation. The CFS is the only globally-recognized certification for food scientists, and has more than 1600 certificants in 55 countries. The CFS program is officially endorsed by the Australian Institute of Food Science Technology (AIFST) as well as the Canadian Institute of Food Science and Technology (CIFST). Earning the CFS consists of meeting certain academic and work experience requirements and passing an exam in the following content areas:

  • Product Development
  • Quality Assurance and Quality Control
  • Food Chemistry and Food Analysis
  • Regulatory
  • Food Microbiology
  • Food Safety
  • Food Engineering
  • Sensory Evaluation and Consumer Testing

It was designed to meet the International Standards Organization (ISO) 17024 standards for certification programs.

Global Food Traceability Center

IFT’s Global Food Traceability Center (GFTC) is the global resource and authoritative voice on food traceability. Supported by its Founding Sponsors and guided by its Advisory Council, GFTC is designed to accelerate adoption and implementation of practical traceability solutions across the global food system.

The Center works to deliver events, research, and support services that will help to increase understanding of food traceability across four business platforms:

  • Research
  • Protocols & Standards
  • Education & Training
  • Technology Transfer

Awards

All awards except the Loncin prize have this reference[13] listed below.

  • Nicholas Appert Award (1942) – IFT's highest honor. Lifetime contributions to food technology.
  • Babcock-Hart Award (1948) – Significant contributions in food technology that resulted in public health improvements through some aspect of nutrition.
  • Bor S. Luh International Award (1956 – International Award from 1956 to 2004) – Individual member or institution that had outstanding efforts in one of the following in food technology: 1) international exchange of ideas, 2) better international understanding, and/or 3) practical successful technology transfer to an economically depressed area in a developed or developing nation.
  • Food Technology Industrial Achievement Award (1959) – Developing an outstanding food process or product that represents a significant advance in food technology or food production.
  • Samuel Cate Prescott Award (1964) – Outstanding ability of research in food technology. This is for researchers who are under 36 years of age or who are a maximum ten years after earning their highest academic degree whichever is later.
  • William V. Cruess Award (1970) – Excellence in teaching food science and technology. It is the only award that students can vote.
  • Carl R. Fellers Award (1984) – For IFT members who have brought honor and recognition to food science through achievements in areas other than education, research, development, and technology transfer.
  • Calvert L. Willey Award (1989) – For meritorious and imaginative service in IFT.
  • Stephen S. Chang Award for Lipid or Flavor Science (1993) – For contribution in lipid and flavor science.
  • IFT Industrial Scientist Award (1994) – For technical contributions that advances the food industry.
  • Marcel Loncin Research Prize (1994)[14]- For basic research involving chemistry, physics, and food engineering applied to food research and food quality.
  • IFT Research & Development Award (1997) – For significant research and development contributions to better understanding within food science, food technology, and nutrition.
  • Elizabeth Fleming Stier Award (1997) – Humanitarian and unselfish dedication that results in significant contributions to the well-being in the food industry, academia, general public, or students.
  • Bernard L. Oser Award (2000) – For contributing to the scientific knowledge of food ingredient safety or in leadership in establishing food ingredient safety evaluation or regulation.
  • Myron Solberg Award (2004) – For providing leadership in establishing, successfully developing, and continuing a cooperative organization involving academia, government, and industry.
  • Sensory and Consumer Sciences Achievement Award (2014) –To recognize excellence within the sensory and consumer sciences field.
  • Gilbert A. Leveille Award and Lectureship (2014) – Recognizes outstanding research and/or public service at the interface between the disciplines of nutrition and food science, over a period of five years or more, which has contributed to improved health and well-being.
  • WK Kellogg International Food Security Award (2012) – To honor an IFT member working in academics, research institutes or the government, regardless of geographic origin, whose outstanding efforts result in one or more of the following: (1) Enabling and increasing access to nutritious food in non-industrialized countries; (2) Developing emerging technologies and/or research that addresses non-industrialized countries food needs, food safety, and food security; and/or (3) Contributing toward the technological development in one or more local food industries to help foster economic development in non-industrialized countries.

Divisions

These are divisions of interest by the IFT Members[15]

  • Aquatic Food Products – seafood
  • Biotechnology
  • Carbohydrate
  • Dairy Foods – dairy products
  • Education
  • Extension and Outreach
  • Food Chemistry
  • Food Engineering
  • Food Law and Regulations – legal aspects in food processing and technology
  • Food Microbiology
  • Food Packaging
  • Foodservice – restaurants.
  • Fruit & Vegetable Products
  • IFT Student Association
  • International
  • Marketing & Management
  • Muscle Foods – meat, poultry, and seafood
  • Nonthermal Processing – food processing through using alternative lethal agents such as high pressure, electric field, UV, ultrasound and cold plasma
  • Nutraceuticals & Functional Foods – Combining nutrition and medicine for healthy living
  • Nutrition
  • Product Development – Developing foods from the laboratory to the general public
  • Quality Assurance – food quality
  • Refrigerated and Frozen Foods – foods that are processed through refrigeration and freezing
  • Sensory and Consumer Sciences
  • Toxicology and Safety Evaluation – food allergy mainly

Sections

These are usually cities, states, and regions. If a region is mentioned, a city in that region is mentioned which include areas surrounded by the city.[16]

Executive vice presidents

Between IFT's founding in 1939 and 1949, the institute had elected a secretary and treasurer that kept up with the daily operations of the institute. By 1949, the membership had reached 3,000 and it was decided to create an Executive Secretary position and establish national office in Chicago. Since then, the position's name has changed twice to its current name. There have been six Executive Vice Presidents[17] shown below:

Member grades

There are four member grades within IFT:[18]

  • Student member – A full-time student working on an Associate of Science degree or higher in food science, food technology, or a related field. All applications must be endorsed by a faculty member.
  • Member – A person active in the food industry who shows interest in supporting the Institute's objective.
  • Professional Member – An IFT member who has five years of experience within food science or technology whether it is academic, government, or industrial. A member with a Master of Science degree can earn one year of experience while member with a Doctorate of Philosophy degree can earn three years of experience to assist in qualification.
  • Emeritus Member – Any retired Member or Professional Member who has been an IFT Member for a minimum of twenty years.

Presidents

2019-2020 Pam Coleman

2018-2019 Michelle Perchonok

2017-2018 Cindy Steward

2016-2017 John Coupland

2015-2016 Colin Dennis

2014-2015 Mary Ellen Camire

2013-2014 Janet Collins

2012-2013 John Ruff

2011-2012 Roger A. Clemens

2010-2011 Robert B Gravani

2009-2010 Marianne Gillette

2008-2009 Sheri Schellhaass

2007-2008 John Floros

2006-2007 Dennis Heldman

2005-2006 Margaret Lawson

2004-2005 Herbert Stone

2003-2004 C. Ann Hollingsworth*

2002-2003 Mark R. McClellan

2001-2002 Philip Nelson

2000-2001 Mary K. Schmidl

1999-2000 Charles H. Manley

1998-1999 Bruce H. Stillings

1997-1998 Mary K. Wagner

1996-1997 Robert E. Smith

1995-1996 Frank F. Busta

1994-1995 Roy G. Arnold

1993-1994 Al S. Clausi

1992-1993 David R. Lineback

1991-1992 John H. Litchfield

1990-1991 Daryl B. Lund

1989-1990 Paul F. Hopper*

1988-1989 Theodore P. Labuza

1987-1988 Roy E. Morse*

1986-1987 John J. Powers*

1985-1986 Charles J. Bates*

1984-1985 Bernard J. Liska*

1983-1984 Gilbert A. Leveille

1982-1983 Owen R. Fennema*

1981-1982 Arthur T. Schramm*

1980-1981 Frederick J. Francis*

1979-1980 Walter L. Clark*

1978-1979 Bernard S. Schweigert*

1977-1978 Howard E. Bauman*

1976-1977 John C. Ayres*

1975-1976 Ernest J. Briskey*

1974-1975 Charles F. Niven Jr.*

1973-1974 Reid T. Milner*

1972-1973 Ben F. Buchanan*

1971-1972 Richard L. Hall

1970-1971 Hans Lineweaver*

1969-1970 Herbert E. Robinson*

1968-1969 Bernard L. Oser*

1967-1968 George F. Stewart*

1966-1967 John H. Nair*

1965-1966 Maynard A. Joslyn*

1964-1965 Charles T. Townsend*

1963-1964 C. Olin Ball*

1962-1963 John M. Jackson*

1961-1962 Harold W. Schultz*

1960-1961 Irmi J. Hutchings*

1959-1960 Ray B. Wakefield*

1958-1959 Aksel G. Olsen*

1957-1958 Emil M. Mrak*

1956-1957 George F. Garnatz*

1955-1956 LaVerne E. Cilfcorn*

1954-1955 Phillip K. Bates*

1953-1954 Berton S. Clark*

1952-1953 Bernard E. Proctor*

1951-1952 Charles N. Frey*

1950-1951 Paul F. Sharp*

1949-1950 Carl R. Fellers*

1948-1949 H.C. Diehl*

1947-1948 George J. Hucker*

1946-1947 Ellery H. Harvey*

1945-1946 Fred W. Tanner*

1944-1945 Fred C. Blanck*

1943-1944 William V. Cruess*

1942-1943 Roy C. Newton*

1941-1942 Laurence B. Burton*

1939-1941 Samuel Cate. Prescott*


Publications

The Institute also has many publications that are both in print and online[20] that are shown below:

Both Food Technology and the Journal of Food Science can be accessed in print or online. Other publications are shown below:

  • The Journal of Food Science Education or JSFE (2002 – Online only) – This quarterly journal deals with innovations, techniques, and methods to improve education in food science and technology.[23]
  • Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety (2002 – Online only) – This journal, published bimonthly, deals with a broad review of a narrowly defined topic relating to food science and technology, including physiology, economics, history, nutrition, microbiology, engineering, processing, and genetics. All aspects of these reviews are studied, including strengths, weaknesses, and research differences in order to present insightful investigation, including interpretation, summary, and conclusion.[24]
  • IFT Weekly Newsletter – A weekly e-mail newsletter sent out every Wednesday about issues within the food industry, including food companies, food research, food regulations, and IFT itself.[25]
  • Nutraceutical Newsletter – An e-mail newsletter similar to the IFT Weekly Newsletter though it deals specifically with nutraceuticals and functional foods.[25]
  • IFT Books – The Institute has four book publishers that offer membership discounts, including IFT Press (a partnership with Wiley-Blackwell), Grey House Publishing, DESteck Publications, and Taylor and Francis, on food science and technology.[26]
  • Three annual buyers guides are also published: Food Technology Buyer's Guide, Nutraceutical Buyer's Guide, and Annual Guide to Food Industry Services. These are usually published as a supplement to Food Technology magazine.[26]

In 2016 they initiated and funded the documentary Food Evolution by Scott Hamilton Kennedy

References
  1. Goldblith, S.A. (1993). Pioneers in Food Science, Volume 1: Samuel Cate Prescott – M.I.T. Dean and Pioneer Food Technologist. Trumball, Connecticut: Food & Nutrition Press, Inc. pp. 99–100.
  2. Goldblith. p. 101.
  3. Goldblith. p. 102.
  4. Northern California IFT Section Chairs
  5. "In Memoriam: Calvert L. Willey." Food Technology June 1994. pp. 20–21.
  6. "Heldman, Dennis R. "Proposed Changes in IFT Divisions." IFT-FED Webletter. May 2006. Accessed October 7, 2006". Archived from the original on July 1, 2007. Retrieved October 7, 2006.
  7. IFT Student Association history
  8. IFT-News Room
  9. IUFoST links with IFT
  10. Heldman, D.R. "IFT and International Food Science." Food Technology. November 2006: 11.
  11. Heldman, D. R. "IFT and the Food Science Profession." Food Technology. October 2006. p. 11.
  12. http://www.am-fe.ift.org/
  13. "Achievement Awards Nomination (Word file)". Archived from the original on March 2, 2006. Retrieved October 5, 2006.
  14. "Marcel Loncin Research Prize". Archived from the original on October 2, 2006. Retrieved October 5, 2006.
  15. IFT Divisions
  16. IFT Sections
  18. IFT Member Grades
  19. http://www.ift.org/about-us/our-leadership/past-presidents.aspx
  20. IFT Publications
  21. Food Technology magazine
  22. Journal of Food Science
  23. The Journal of Food Science Education
  24. "Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety". Archived from the original on October 2, 2006. Retrieved October 7, 2006.
  25. IFT Newsletters
  26. Books

Further reading
  • Wanucha, Genevieve. "Two Happy Clams: The Friendship that Forged Food Science." Food Technology. November 2009. p. 69.

Concerns

One constant that IFT has concern with is food safety, mainly with pathogens in food (see food microbiology) and how to counter these harmful bacteria. The global trade of food is also concerned with food safety and food security, specifically with ingredient availability and consumer tastes worldwide. Food traceability, food fraud, obesity, and how science and technology will help feed the world’s projected 9 billion-plus people in 2050 have all become main issues for IFT.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.