IFT Shares Educational Tools and Resources in Recognition of World Food Safety Day

CHICAGO — In honor of World Food Safety Day today, 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, is highlighting a series of educational tools and resources that help address the biggest food safety issues impacting the food and beverage sector today.

IFT FIRST, the annual food science, technology, and innovation event hosted by IFT, will once again feature a healthy serving of food safety programming when it returns to McCormick Place in Chicago July 14-17. This will include sessions on how AI and UV light solutions can improve safety standards by combatting pathogens; why leveraging supply chain technology can improve food traceability and safety; as well as 25 poster presentations from leading food researchers sharing their latest studies around food safety.

“Despite significant advances in food protection methods and technologies, the number of people who fall ill, or worse, from contaminated food and foodborne illnesses remains far too high,” said IFT Chief Science and Technology Officer Bryan Hitchcock. “IFT and its members are vigorously working to improve protection of our global food supply.”

IFT’s Global Food Traceability Center recently launched an Enterprise Traceability Education Suite, empowering organizations to train their employees on key traceability concepts, preparing for incoming regulations and mitigating the risk of recalls. From a basic awareness of food traceability principles to detailed guides on how to design, implement, evaluate and enhance an organization’s traceability system, the self-paced courses are thoughtfully designed to educate professionals across all levels and business areas. The educational courses are designed to offer an efficient and affordable solution to help with compliance to the FDA’s Food Traceability Rule, which goes into effect in January 2026. Meanwhile, IFT’s Food Technology editorial team collaborated with the Global Food Traceability center on a free introductory guide to Food Traceability Rule final compliance.  

Last year around World Food Safety Day, IFT rebranded its Quality Management Division to be the Food Safety & Quality Management Division to better reflect the overall responsibilities of its 1,500 members across more than 60 countries who focus on assurance, quality control, food safety and food wholesomeness. IFT also recently shared the important role it plays in the U.N.’s Codex Alimentarius Commission, which oversees the development of internationally aligned food standards.

To learn more about IFT and its impact on food safety, go to www.ift.org.