Chicago, IL— The annual IFT First expo just wrapped up its 2024 event at McCormick Place, in Chicago, IL. Over 1000 exhibitors from all sectors of the global food value chain registered for this year's function, ready to treat guests to its latest in products, technologies, and innovations. For those who could not attend, WholeFoods magazine compiled some of the noteworthy points.
Keynotes and Sessions
Moderated by Saharah Moon Chapotin, Ph.D., F&B Ecosystem of the Future: Harnessing the Power of Innovation, Collaboration, and Diverse Thinking discussed the changes taking place in the food and beverage industry due to unprecedented challenges and disruptions. The panel included Chief Science & Research Officer at dsm-firmenich, Sarah Reisinger, Ph.D., Quincy Lissaur, Executive Director at SSAFE, René Lammers, Ph.D., Executive Vice President & Chief Science Officer at PepsiCo, and James Gratzek, Ph.D. Faculty & Director: Food Science & Technology, Food Product Innovation & Commercialization Center (FoodPIC) at University of Georgia.
The Future of The FDA’s Food Program featured James "Jim" Jones, Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods at U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) discussing the power of food science and technology collaborations. Similarly, Advancing Food System Innovation Through Novel Technologies emphasized the importance of that collaboration and its role in ushering in the next era of possibilities.
Networking Events
IFT guests had the opportunity to connect through two interactive platforms: Find Your Next Friend Networking Hour, which was held on the last day of the expo in the IFT HUB, and Braindate—a special peer-to-peer networking platform that allowed users to create a profile, create and browse posts to the Braindate Topic Market, and schedule meetings with fellow industry members at the Braindate Lounge.
Other identity-based networking opportunities included the Hispanic and Latinx Networking Hour sponsored by Ingredion; the Asian, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Networking Hour; and the Neurodiverse & Disability Networking Hour. The Industry Transparency Center hosted Sip & Savor Ingredients Networking Night on July 15th at the Hubbard Inn, an evening that provided networking and socializing with industry leaders.
Launches & Innovation
A&B Ingredients, provider of natural, clean-label ingredient solutions focused on health and nutrition, food safety, and shelf life extension for the food and beverage industry. With a lab in New Jersey, the company also focuses on the research and development of unique food ingredients that are sourced from nature and help companies meet market demands for clean, natural, sustainable food products.
Balchem was updating attendees on its customized ingredients for human nutrition, animal nutrition, and health related specialty products. The company supports b2b customization flavor systems, color systems, and functional beverages for energy and athletic performance. Their product line includes VitaCholine, Collagen crisps, and oat based products. Also from Balchem: Optifolin+ is a first-of-its-kind choline-enriched bioactive form of folate, with 98% active methylating capacity and 7x methyl agent advantage to impact gene, protein, and cell function for natural methylation and comprehensive health support. Optifolin+ boasts excellent stability and solubility, reducing complexity and enabling ease in product development and formulation innovation.
Bell Flavors & Fragrances is a manufacturer providing flavors, fragrances, botanicals and ingredients for various industries/products including personal care, botanic extracts for hair, skin, and cosmetic products, and perfumers. The company offers its consumers analytics, sensory technology, and a high level of purity. A new white paper promoting the company's clean labels will be available soon.
BENEO experts were on hand describing the benefits of a balanced approach to eating on energy levels and fuel for the body, promoting scientifically proven and natural solutions for healthy weight management and essential nourishment. IFT guests were able to discover Palatinose—BENEO's slow-releasing carb stimulating the release of GLP-1 and providing more balanced blood glucose levels, and the company's plant-based proteins sourced from rice and faba beans, as well as innovative product samples featuring new food and beverage options while learning about the brand's prebiotic fibers and their effect on metabolism and calorie reduction intake while adding to a healthy gut microbiota.
Bioiberica highlighted and celebrated its native type II collagen for joint health, Collavant n2, receiving self-determined GRAS status after an independent panel of scientists made up of professors from the University of Illinois and expert toxicologists evaluated the ingredients safety data and determined its use as an ingredient in conventional foods. Guests learned about the new possibilities unlocked by Collavant n2's GRAS status, as well as new product development with Mobilee for joint and muscle health and Dermial for skin health. "Obtaining self-determined GRAS status for Collavant n2 is a very exciting milestone, both for us and our North American customers,” shared Marketing & Communication Director at Bioiberica, Antonio Vendrell.
Gadot Biochemical Industries showcased its product line includes soluble calcium for mixing, hydration blends, magnesium, potassium, sodium, zinc, phosphates, citrates, and sweeteners.
Gelita, manufacturer of natural and allergen-free ingredients, specializing in collagen peptides, collagen, and gelatin for the food, dietary supplement, and pharmaceutical industries, provides solutions for medical and technical applications as well as products that provide a healthy balanced diet for consumers.
Global Organics, serving the United States and Europe, is an organic, sustainable, non-GMO, and fair trade food ingredients, NOP, COR, FVO, and EU certified manufacturer. With a trained in-house sensory panel to guarantee product consistency and quality, the company sources from farms that use intercropping, income generation, and earth-friendly fertilization.
HealthTech Bioactives (HTBA) launched a high-purity natural sweetness modifier for reduced-sugar soft drinks, dairy & non-dairy beverages. Made from citrus fruit, the ingredient enhances sweet tastes, improves mouthfeel, and can help manufacturers looking to overcome taste challenges from a constantly changing consumer demand. “With over 40 years’ experience in developing consumer-centric solutions from nature, our latest natural flavoring ingredient further strengthens our capabilities in this space," shared Jordi-Ferre-Nadal, General Manager, North America at HTBA.
Icon Foods, clean label, all natural, healthy sweetening solutions provider, is on a mission to provide consumers with a pathway to health. Through its proprietary water extraction process, they offer products like Baker's Blend, brown sugar substitutes, stevia, and monkfruit.
Lycored previewed its new nature-based colorant, ResilientRed BF. The new carotenoid is the latest addition to the naturally derived lycopene-based ResilientRed shades, which are sourced from tomatoes. ResilientRed BF provides resiliency and stability across pH, light and heat extremes, and is ideal for UHT dairy and plant-based beverages, plant-based meat alternatives, and surimi seafood. Caroline Schroeder, Head of Global Marketing for Lycored, said the company is "confident that this new nature-based colorant will satisfy the growing number of consumers who desire premium, clean-label products."
Developer of renewable and traceable sources of plant-based nutrition for supplement, food, and beverage brands, Nuseed, debuted its canola-based omega-3 ingredient at. Nutriterra is the first plant-based source of complete omega-3 nutrition, including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). With consumer interest in omega-3 supplements having grown significantly, sourcing the nutrient strictly from marine sources has become unsustainable. "Eight out of 10 people don't get enough omega-3s, and more accessible and sustainable sources are needed to meet human health demand and consumer expectations while protecting our oceans for future generations," said Justin White, Nutriterra global nutrition lead.
RIBUS was at the show providing natural and organic rice ingredients to the food, beverage, pet nutrition, and dietary supplement industries. The company is Non-GMO Project Verified, export friendly, and AAFCO approved.
Roquette, serving the Pharma & Nutraceuticals, Cosmetics, and Food & Nutrition industries, the company's capabilities include sugar reduction, digestive health prebiotic, pea protein, and sugar free gummies.
Sweegen welcomed guests to its word of wellness, functional ingredients technologies with less sugar and more flavor. On display was Tastecode Natural Flavors for Taste Modulation—a taste tool to help brands better understand consumer taste profile preferences by addressing specific taste challenges and develop sensory experiences at the molecular level.
