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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Chairperson Login IFT Connect Not a Member Yet?  Social

Min DeGruson

 Food Packaging Division
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1400+

Division Members
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1977

Year Founded
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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 2022-2023 recipient is Olive Li. 

Outstanding Service - The Outstanding Service award honors current Division members who have demonstrated a history of service to the Division or field. The 2022-2023 recipient is Ashutos Parhi. 

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

  • First: Emma Gordy, Oregon State University: Investigation of hornification to reduce the water retention value of apple pomace based pulp for producing high-quality transfer-molded pulp packaging
  • Second: Sudarshan Medagam, North Carolina State University: Optimization of novel edible coating based on UV-C treated gallic acid and chitosan: antimicrobial efficacy against Salmonella Typhimurium
  • Third: Zhiyuan Xu, Virginia Tech: Development of a visible light-responsive antimicrobial packaging film for improving food safety
  • Finalist: Evgenia Basdeki, Agricultural University of Athens, Greece: Evaluation of the effect of packaging materials on the quality and shelf-life of whole fish in the actual cold chain
  • Finalist: Anusha Salian, The Ohio State University: The Effect of Modified Atmosphere Packaging and Methyl Jasmonate on the Shelf Life of Lychee
  • Finalist: Ajit Kumar Singh, Yonsei University, South Korea: Sustainable development of water-resistant and thermally insulated molded composites using recycled paper pulp for cold chain packaging applications

Upcoming Events right arrow

Supplier Event

Chicago Section IFT Suppliers Expo

Rosemont, Illinois

Supplier Event

St Louis Section IFT Annual Suppliers Expo

St. Charles, Missouri

Supplier Event

Rocky Mountain Section IFT Suppliers Night Trade Show 2024

Denver, Colorado

Supplier Event

Rocky Mountain Section IFT Suppliers Night Golf Outing

Golden, Colorado

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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