The friendship that helped forge food science

Seventy-five years ago on January 16, 1939, the founding members of what would eventually be called the Institute of Food Technologists gathered in New York City to discuss the new organization, its constitution and name, a definition of food technology, and a list of possible committees. The group met later again that summer and IFT was founded on July 1, 1939.

One of the founding members of IFT was Samuel Cate Prescott, the first and only two-term President of the professional society. In 1895…