2025 Theme: Clean Label, Transparency, and Ingredient Simplification

Current consumer trends include consumers wanting to know what is in their food. They are frequently seeking clean labels, transparency in ingredients, and a simplified ingredient list. This infographic competition is designed for IFT student members to showcase their skills in communicating how clean label, transparency and ingredient simplification drive innovation in food product development. Students are challenged to develop principles on how product developers can respond to consumer demand for clean label, transparency, and ingredient simplification, driving innovation in the food system.

This year's topic, Clean Label, Transparency, and Ingredient Simplification, encourages participants to explore how companies focus on short ingredient lists, recognizable ingredients, or minimal processing to meet consumer demands. By participating in this competition students will,

• Develop principles for clean label, transparency, or ingredient simplification for product developers, focusing on how these practices can enhance and streamline the new product development process
• Enhance their knowledge of product development and how companies may need to prioritize short ingredient lists, recognizable components, and minimal processing to meet evolving consumer demands
• Apply previously acquired knowledge and teamwork skills
• Showcase their communication skills uniquely and innovatively
• Gain exposure and prestige
• Win a cash prize if declared the winner

Competition participants will be notified of their status before IFT FIRST: Annual Event & Expo along with a monetary prize of $1000, $750, and $500 awarded to first, second, and third place teams. The winner/winning team may receive recognition through social media and the Product Development Division and/or International Division communications.

Eligibility & Teams

• All participants must be IFT student members
• Group or individual submissions are allowed - open to maximum 4 people in a group
• Teams may be undergraduate students, graduate students, or both together
• Students from different (or same) universities around the globe can collaborate

Topic and Rules

Students will create an infographic that aligns to the following topic:

Clean Label, Transparency, and Ingredient Simplification

• Digital graphic submission. This can be created using software such as, but not limited to, PowerPoint. The recommended slide size is 18x24 inches.
• We will only accept static posters for this contest (video and gif elements are not allowed)
• Each group or individual is limited to one submission (multiple submissions are not allowed)
• Your graphic should showcase principles of clean label, transparency, or ingredient simplification in successful product development, developed by you/your team
• References must be provided wherever needed. Links to articles/appropriate sources are allowed instead of citations to avoid excessive wording and to make the best use of space.
• You do not need to manufacture a product. This competition is designed to encourage ideas on how a product developer can meet evolving consumer demands.

Timeline

• Deadline for participants to submit: April 30, 2025 @ 11:59 p.m. CT
• Results will be announced by July 2025

Judging Criteria

A panel of experts in the areas of product development, ingredient specialization, and scientific communication will judge the entries. Organizers can serve as judges if needed.

The submissions will be evaluated based on:

1. Concept relevance (accurately relates to clean label, transparency or ingredient simplification, creativity, and background information) – 40%
2. Content Knowledge (Understanding science, interpretation of results, validity of conclusion) – 40%
3. Presentation Layout (Organization, visual appeal) – 20%

Submitters are encouraged to keep the following points in mind:

• Language should be easy to understand
• Creative use of graphics
• Focus on using relevant, up-to-date information
• The message should be clear and easy to understand
• Specific companies or brands should not be referenced, especially in a defamatory way
• Be mindful about copyright

Entry Form

Contact

Please feel free to reach out to Pratishtha Verma and Chamali Kodikara if you have any questions about the competition. Please reach out to Sydnie Nugent regarding the submission form process.