Food Packaging division

Food Packaging Division

Join the Food Packaging Division to discuss important and novel topics, technologies, and research inspiring the future of food packaging. #FoodPackaging


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Quick Information and Links

Chairperson Login IFT Connect Not a Member Yet?  Social

Min DeGruson

Melvin Pascall 

 Food Packaging Division
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1400+

Division Members
Adults talking in a meeting around a table

1977

Year Founded
food variety spread on table

35

Food Packaging Awards
...in honor of Don Riester, Rees Davis, and Aaron Brody awarded since 1986.

Noteworthy Programs

Student Food Packaging Development Competition

This annual international competition honors advancements in student food packaging development. Launched in 2019, students are challenged with developing a packaging solution to address a problem or need related to food packaging. A general certificate along with monetary prizes are awarded every year, along with recognition at the annual IFT FIRST Food Packaging, Food Engineering, and Nonthermal Processing Division joint social. 9 student winners have been awarded since 2019.

Learn more

Webinars on current issues relating to food packaging

Periodically, Food Packaging Division invites speakers to volunteer meetings to give a 20–25-minute presentation on emerging food packaging technologies affecting the quality, efficiency, and sustainability of packaging materials and processes. Some of the past Webinar topics are: Application of Poly (lactic acid)/Cellulose Nanocrystal Nanocomposite Packaging Films to Increase the Shelf-life of Food Products; Packaging in the Industrial Revolution; Antimicrobial Food Packaging – Why Is It So Difficult? and Enhancing Degradation Leading to Biodegradation.

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IFT Achievement Award: Food Packaging Award in honor of Don Riester, Rees Davis, and Aaron Brody

The Food Packaging Award is one of IFT Achievement Awards. It honors an individual who has provided lifetime contributions to innovation in food packaging technology. Since 1986, 35 recipients have been recognized with this award.

Award Details

Upcoming courses related to Food Packaging

Join members of the IFT Community for two days of short courses on July 15 & 16, 2023. IFT FIRST Short Courses were created to provide the science of food community with resources and skills for career development and to learn relevant knowledge that can be applied in the workplace. Two courses relate to Food Packaging: A Simplified Approach to Shelf-Life and Labeling Requirements and Implications for Foods Marketed in the U.S.

View Short Courses

Division Accomplishments/Recognition

Outstanding Volunteer - The Outstanding Volunteer award honors a current Division member who provided exemplary volunteer work to the Division in the current year. The 2021-2022 recipient is Elizabet Moreno Reyes. 

Outstanding Service - The Outstanding Service award honors current Division members who have demonstrated a history of service to the Division or field. The 2021-2022 recipient is Kris DeAngelo.

4 monthly volunteer webinars

  • Application of poly (lactic acid)/cellulose nanocrystal nanocomposite packaging films to increase the shelf-life of food products
  • Packaging in the industrial revolution
  • Antimicrobial Food Packaging – Why Is It So Difficult?
  • Enhancing degradation leading to biodegradation

Quarterly newsletters

Student Food Packaging - Development Competition winners:

  • First Place - Elliot Dhuey, -The Ohio State University. Harnessing the bio-preservative power of probiotics through multilayered edible films
  • Second Place - Halle Redfearn, - Cornell University. Reactive Extrusion of Nonmigratory Active and Intelligent Packaging for the Reduction of Food Waste
  • Third Place - Eda Kaya, – Kansas State University. Acetyl-triacylglycerol incorporated sorghum DDGS biodegradable packaging film

3 published review papers in Encyclopedia of Food Safety

  • Eva Almenar, Melvin Pascall, Min DeGruson – Novel and Sustainable Packaging
  • Melvin Pascall, Shyam Sablani, Peyton Greenwood - Aseptic Packaging
  • Min DeGruson, XiaoJing (Kate) Liu - Packaging Materials and Auxiliary Materials

Ongoing discussions on a grant writing activity

Division Oral Competition Finalists

  1. Accelerated Shelf-life study of fortified rice: Evaluating micronutrient retention in different packaging options, Mehreen Iftikhar, Kansas State University (First Place)
  2. Shelf-life determination of oxygen-sensitive foods in polymeric packaging materials using a multi-accelerant approach, Anbuhkani Muniandy, Purdue University (Second Place)
  3. Consumer behavior towards packaging made of agricultural waste for food, Korey Fennell, Michigan State University (Third Place)
  4. Orange Peel Powder As A Filler for Plastic Films for Food Packaging Applications: A Case Study In Bread, Haile Tesfaye Duguma, Michigan State University (Finalist)
  5. Efficacy of ROS-producing Rose Bengal antimicrobial packaging film under visible light, Andrea Johnson, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Finalist)

Upcoming Events right arrow

Meeting

Alamo IFT Section Annual Golf Outing and Scholarship Awards Dinner

San Antonio, Texas

Supplier Event

2023 Chicago Section IFT Suppliers Expo

Rosemont, Illinois

Supplier Event

Minnesota Section IFT Expo

Minneapolis, Minnesota

Supplier Event

Longhorn Section IFT Suppliers Night Event and Golf Tournament

Frisco, Texas

How to Join a Division

Joining a Division is easy! Signing up for a Division gives you access to the Division’s IFT Connect Community, signs you up for their newsletter, and gives you access to Subject Matter Experts in the field. To sign up for a Division, visit IFT-Divisions. After signing into your account, check the boxes of the Divisions you would like to be involved with and click save.

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