Recognition for Roger Clemens; Getting to know Isolde Aubuchon

Clemens receives honorary membership, Trailblazer Award
Roger Clemens, past president of IFT, received an honorary membership in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Trailblazer Award at the recent Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE), hosted by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND).

Jointly bestowed by AND and IFT, the Trailblazer Award recognizes exceptional leaders who have advanced the science at the nexus of nutrition/dietetics and food science for at least five years. The award is conferred upon a leader who has demonstrated innovative contributions to improve health among underserved populations through at least one aspect of food science and technology, and has exhibited intellectual courage in research, instruction, and/or communication at this intersection.

Commenting on the award, Clemens said, “This is a celebration of the collaboration between the academy and the Institute of Food Technologists.”

Clemens was also recently elected president of the Academy Executive Council (AEC) of the International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST). The AEC is elected from among the Academy Fellows and by the Academy Fellows. The Academy collectively forms a pool of scientific expertise from which the Union may draw nonaligned expert advice on scientific matters, and the Academy nominates the Distinguished Lecturer for each IUFoST World Congress.

Nominations open for 2019 Macy Award
The Minnesota Section of IFT is seeking nominations from all IFT sections for the 2019 Harold Macy Food Science and Technology Award. Established in 1981, the award is given annually to honor an outstanding example of food technology transfer or cooperation between scientists or technologists in any two of the following settings: academic, government, and private industry. The purpose of the award is to advance the profession and practice of food technology and to honor Harold Macy, dean emeritus of the University of Minnesota and a founding member of IFT. The award consists of a $2,500 honorarium and travel expenses to address the Minnesota Section at the spring award meeting. Nominations for the award must be made before January 7, 2019, and can be submitted at the Minnesota Section web page at www.mnift.org/awards/macy-award/.

CFSA and ANDP hold joint meeting
The Council of Food Science Administrators (CFSA) recently held a joint meeting with the Association of Nutrition Departments & Programs (ANDP). Hosted by IFT member and CFSA Chair Olga Padilla-Zakour of Cornell University, the three-day meeting brought department heads and program coordinators from both food science and nutrition programs together. As part of their collaborative relationship, IFT works with CFSA to provide in-person and online forums for exchanging ideas and sharing resources. CFSA, in turn, provides insights and strategic input to IFT leadership as a ‘collective voice’ of academic leaders in the food science profession.

Among the presenters at the October meeting were IFT staff members Kate Dockins and Dinesh Rajangam, who spoke about Feeding Tomorrow–funded research on The Food Science Academic Knowledge Base, which is designed to identify trends in food science enrollment, education, and attitudes. The research combines quantitative and aggregated institutional data from food science programs with survey data given by food science students about their motivations and perspectives in their pursuit of food science degrees. The research is meant to inform programs and decisions to help recruit the best and brightest minds to education and careers in the important field of food science.

Kemin hires Srivastava
Anita Srivastava recently joined Kemin Industries as senior product development manager for bakery applications. In her new role, she will lead product development and innovation to support Kemin customers in the tortilla segment, focusing on formulation and optimization of processing parameters, including equipment and ingredients for bakery blends and applications for flour and corn tortilla products and flatbreads.

“We are thrilled to have Dr. Anita Srivastava join our bakery application team to support our tortilla business,” said Courtney Schwartz, principal marketing communications manager. “Her extensive experience managing all aspects of the product development process—from benchtop through successful commercialization of food and beverage products—will benefit our commercial partners and assist in the growth and development of this key segment.”

Srivastava previously directed the research programs for a tortilla business based in Atlanta. She has extensive experience managing the product development process, working and communicating with cross-functional teams, and leading efforts in areas such as innovation and quality assurance for companies such as CSM Bakery Solutions. She earned MS and PhD degrees in food science from the University of Georgia and an MS in food technology from GBP University of Agriculture & Technology, India. Srivastava is a member of IFT.

IFT webcasts cover phage technology, nonthermal processing
Gain a deeper understanding of phage technology and how it benefits food safety in the upcoming webinar “Phage Technology: Harnessing the Power of Nature to Kill Pathogens on Food and in Processing Environments.” Topics include mechanism of action, specificity of host range, and efficacy. Attendees will also learn about regulatory aspects and discover how others within industry are deploying phages today. Case studies will highlight successful application in varied industry segments. The 60-minute webcast is scheduled for January 24, 2019, at noon, CDT.

Learn about the applications of nonthermal technologies in fruit and vegetable applications in the webcast “Novel Nonthermal Processing Technologies and Their Applications in Fruit and Vegetable Products.” In addition to improved food safety, novel nonthermal technologies also improve the freshness and shelf life of these products. Attendees will be able to bring new processing and product development ideas to their companies for ideation and innovation. The 60-minute webcast is scheduled for February 7, 2019, at noon, CDT.

For more information and to register, visit www.ift.org and click “Knowledge Center–Learn Online.”

Getting to know Isolde Aubuchon
Each month, we meet one of IFT’s valued volunteers.

New challenges excite me,” says Isolde Aubuchon, technical director at American Beverage Marketers, where she creates cocktail mix brands like Master of Mixes, Finest Call, Re’al, and Agalima.

“Having the team create the best possible product and execute it to the marketplace in a very efficient manner is a win for the whole team,” she adds. “I enjoy meeting and working with all team members across multidisciplinary functions to ensure they get what they need for us all to succeed at the company. On a different note, working with 99% of my suppliers is such a joy; most of them have become very good friends over the years.”

After moving to the Louisville, Ky., area, Aubuchon began her involvement with IFT by joining the Bluegrass Section. “I felt it was a good opportunity to get to know people in the area in the food industry and started getting involved. I have been member at large, president, and am now serving my term as past president.” Among the activities she has enjoyed most during her volunteer tenure is planning her section’s annual golf outing for the past two years. “I do love the game of golf, and so it was rewarding to have such a successful event this past May.”

As someone with a passion for novel technologies, especially in the beverage industry, Aubuchon finds much to be excited about when it comes to new developments in food science. “Food science is ever evolving and so multifaceted,” she says. “At 15 I had decided I needed to choose a career that was based on human needs—food. I have led a very focused food career, mainly in the beverage category on three continents now. It is interesting to watch how food trends do travel and evolve around the world. I have been so fortunate to be a part of this industry.”

In Memoriam
Wayne R. Bidlack, former dean of the College of Agriculture at California State Polytechnic University, passed away on November 2.

Bidlack’s career spanned nearly 45 years in the food and health industry, and included work in the areas of pharmacology, toxicology, and nutrition. A longtime member and Fellow of IFT, he served in a variety of capacities, including chairing the Toxicology and Safety Evaluation Division Leader Workgroup, the Southern California Section Leadership, the Audit & Risk Committee, and the Task Force on Strategic Development. He was also a longtime contributor to Food Technology magazine and served as a Food Science Communicator.

Bidlack also held various academic administrative positions and provided volunteer service and leadership to the American College of Nutrition, the Society of Toxicology, and the International Life Sciences Institute. Among the honors he received were the Meritorious Service Award from the California Dietetic Association and the Distinguished Achievement Award from the Southern California Section of IFT.

Bidlack authored or published more than 60 publications, including 12 book chapters, and served as the editor of seven books. He was also book editor on the Journal of the American College of Nutrition as well as a member of the editorial board, and edited two books on phytochemicals published by Technomics.

Bidlack received a BA in dairy science and technology from Pennsylvania State University, an MS in food science from Iowa State University, and a PhD in biochemistry from the University of California, Davis. He was a postdoctoral fellow in pharmacology at the University of Southern California School of Medicine.

IFT also notes the passing of the following member: Khee-Choon Rhee

Section Meetings
Chicago
Jan. 14: Dinner Meeting. Skokie, Ill. Click here.

Florida
Feb. 11: Golf Outing. Orlando, Fla. Click here.

Feb. 12: Suppliers Night. Orlando, Fla. Click here.

Puget Sound
Feb. 26: Suppliers’ Night and Symposium. Seattle, Wash. Click here.

South Eastern
Feb. 5: Suppliers’ Expo. Atlanta, Ga. Click here.

Have some news to share about yourself or another IFT member? Email [email protected].