CHICAGO -- "Unlocking a World of Opportunity: The Key is IFT" is the theme of the Institute of Food Technologists' (IFT's) 1998 Annual Meeting & FOOD EXPO June 20-24 in Atlanta, Ga.
Emerging foodborne pathogens and food safety technologies, ensuring the safety of fresh produce, nutraceuticals (foods or food-related substances of potential medicinal or health benefit), product development, agricultural biotechnology, and active packaging are major topics of the four-day technical program at the Georgia World Congress Center. Other areas of emphasis include alcohol and health, dairy foods, home meal replacement, and global food laws and regulations.
General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret.), 12th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, U.S. Department of Defense, will be the keynote speaker for the meeting's Opening Event on Sat., June 20 at 8 PM in the World Congress Center ballroom. In his speech, "The Management of Crisis & Change," he will discuss leadership and volunteerism in America, chronicling his life from childhood in the South Bronx, N.Y., to his distinguished military career, to his retirement and philanthropic endeavors.
The technical program, open June 21-23 from 9 AM to 5:30 PM and June 24 from 9 AM to noon, will feature more than 1,200 presentations of scientific papers as well as informal discussions on key food issues. The latter include the Special Forums "Iron Fortification of Foods," "Designing the Optimum U.S. Food Safety System: A Single Food Agency?," and "President's Food Safety Initiative" as well as the Hot Topic Session "Food Safety Paparazzi" (see separate news materials).
The technical program will also feature two New Product and Technology Sessions, nine Special Forums on timely topics, four video theaters, and the IFT Student Association Product Development Competition (see separate news release).
IFT's FOOD EXPO will be open from noon to 5:30 PM June 21 through 23 and from 9 AM to 12:30 PM on June 24. It will include more than 2,400 exhibit booths* displaying the latest in food products, ingredients, equipment, processes, and services. IFT Executive Director Daniel E. Weber projects that around 20,000 visitors from all over the globe will attend this year.
On June 19 and 20, prior to the Annual Meeting & FOOD EXPO, IFT will conduct a Basic Symposium on the latest developments in flavor chemistry as well as seven continuing education short courses. Programs will address innovative product development (June 20 only); beverage production and technology trends; sanitation and compliance with good manufacturing practices; product traceability, recoveries, and recalls; regulatory approval for food ingredients, nutraceuticals, and dietary supplements; intellectual property law; and healthful food ingredients.
"With a wide variety of programs to address emerging food science and technology issues, IFT's 1998 Annual Meeting will be the key to a world of opportunity for food professionals and may even be their key to success," said IFT President Mary K. Wagner.
For more information on technical programs, visit IFT's web site at <www.ift.org>.
For a list of exhibitors, contact Joan Finn at (312) 782-8424 or <jmfinn@ift.org>.
Founded in 1939, IFT is a non-profit scientific society with 28,000 members working in food science, technology and related professions in industry, academia and government. As the society for food science and technology, IFT brings sound science to the public discussion of food issues.