CHICAGO, May 20, 2025 — The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), a nonprofit dedicated to advancing food science worldwide, will tackle major food safety challenges at its annual event, IFT FIRST: Annual Event and Expo. The event takes place July 13-16, 2025, at McCormick Place in Chicago.
A keynote session titled “Food Additives: Reformulation and Regulatory Challenges” will highlight the latest trends in clean labels and natural alternatives. The talk will focus on how food and beverage makers are pressured to replace synthetic additives such as colors and preservatives. Five leading experts from legal, regulatory, and consumer fields will discuss the high costs, technical difficulties, and scalability issues involved in reformulation, and what companies must do to succeed in the changing market.
Other sessions will explore GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) regulations, FDA’s new food safety policies, and the challenges behind frequent food recalls. Panels will cover how technology can improve safety, the public health impact of food safety issues, global regulatory effects on new products, and consumer confidence in food safety.
Before the main event, IFT’s Food Microbiology Division will hold a workshop on July 12-13 focused on “NextGen Food Safety: Bridging Farm to Table with Smart Tech Solutions.” This training targets agri-food professionals and covers Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), and the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).
IFT CEO Christie Tarantino-Dean said, “Consumer demands for food safety, transparency, and ingredient quality are growing. At IFT FIRST, we unite experts from academia, industry, and government to address these challenges and lead progress.”
IFT FIRST gathers top food science experts for discussions on innovation, health, nutrition, sustainability, food safety, and consumer insights. The expo features the latest food innovations, including Sensient’s butterfly pea flower extract, the industry’s first plant-based natural blue dye recently approved by the FDA.
Leading food safety companies such as Datacor will showcase software that helps manufacturers monitor production in real time, ensure traceability, maintain quality control, and prepare for audits. These tools aid in proactive risk management and regulatory compliance across the supply chain.
IFT FIRST remains a key platform for driving food science forward and helping the industry meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global food system.
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