Reimagining Food Safety in a Time of Rapid Change

A few months ago, I hosted a group of long-time friends at my home. We all started our careers together as young food scientists at the same organization, and over the years, our paths have taken us in many different directions. As we sat together reminiscing, we found ourselves laughing at just how much has changed.

I thought back to when I was a student presenting my research. Back then, we had to carefully create each slide by hand and place it on the projector. It was time-consuming, but it was what we knew. Then PowerPoint came along and completely changed the way we share information.

Later in my career, I remember when adenosine triphosphate (ATP) testing was introduced. Before that, food safety meant visual inspections, swabs, plating, and waiting days for results. ATP testing reduced that to minutes. At the time, it was a major leap forward.

Over the course of my 40-year career, I’ve seen new tools introduced and then quickly replaced by even better ones. But I don’t remember a single moment when I thought, this will fundamentally change everything. Those technologies were adopted gradually, giving us time to learn, to validate, and to build trust.

Today, the pace of change feels very different.

We are at a moment where the speed and scale of innovation is accelerating in ways we haven’t seen before. Artificial intelligence (AI) is not just another tool—it is reshaping how we work, how we make decisions, and how we think about the future of food science. The opportunities are significant, but so is the need to engage and adapt.

In February, I traveled to the United Kingdom to deliver the Binsted Lecture, a collaboration between IFT’s British Section, the Food and Drink Federation, the Institute of Food Science and Technology, and Campden BRI. There, I spoke about artificial intelligence and digital tools in food safety and product development.

During the session, I asked the audience how comfortable they felt integrating AI into their work. The responses were mixed. Some were already using it, others were just beginning to explore it, and some were still hesitant to engage.

What stood out most to me was the level of curiosity. There were thoughtful questions about risk, reliability, and what this means for the future of the workforce. We even discussed whether these tools could introduce new risks into food safety.

But I believe these tools, when used responsibly, have the potential to reduce risk. They allow us to analyze data faster, identify patterns earlier, and move from reacting to issues toward preventing them.

And that shift—from reaction to prevention—is critical. Digital tools give us the ability to strengthen that approach in ways we couldn’t have imagined before.

At the same time, this moment requires balance.

These tools are powerful, but they do not replace human judgment. We still need to ask good questions, challenge the outputs, and apply our scientific expertise. In many ways, the responsibility of the food scientist becomes even more important. It’s not about doing less; it’s about working smarter.

And perhaps most importantly, this is not something we can navigate in isolation.

No one person or organization can keep up with the volume of information, innovation, and change happening across the food system. Collaboration is essential. We need to learn from one another, share perspectives, and stay connected to what’s happening across disciplines.

That’s where IFT plays such an important role.

And that’s why I’m really looking forward to IFT FIRST this year.

We’re bringing scientific programming onto the Expo floor, which will make it easier to connect what you’re learning with the innovations you’re seeing. We’re also expanding networking spaces and adding more curated Expo floor tours to create even more opportunities for connection.

We’ve thoughtfully made these changes to respond to the new needs and expectations the current moment presents. Even as IFT FIRST evolves to address the rapidly changing food landscape, however, IFT’s mission remains constant. We will continue to inspire, connect, and convene our community.

IFT remains the place where we can come together to learn, share, and move forward. And that matters more than ever.