IFT Discusses How to Reduce Heavy Metals in Food in New White Paper

CHICAGO – October 22, 2024 – The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), a nonprofit scientific organization committed to advancing the science of food and its application across the global food system, has released a white paper exploring solutions to reducing exposure to heavy metals in food. "Challenges, Risks, and Potential Solutions to Mitigate Heavy Metal Exposure” examines the causes and health effects of heavy metals in the U.S. food supply and explores how federal nutrition guidelines can better account for exposure to heavy metals, especially in vulnerable populations. The white paper also calls attention to mitigation strategies and highlights research, collaboration, and public health communication needs to better address the issue while also offering insight into how a global, interdisciplinary approach can expedite solutions.

“From farmers measuring soil concentration to consumers cooking at home, reducing dietary exposure to heavy metals is a challenge that will require all facets of the global food system to solve,” said IFT Chief Science and Technology Officer Bryan Hitchcock. “This white paper offers potential solutions to this issue that impacts every part of the farm-to-fork journey.”

Download "Challenges, Risks, and Potential Solutions to Mitigate Heavy Metal Exposure.”

IFT has also released a collection of resources focused on heavy metals that includes research, articles, and insight from IFT’s vast resources, including its scientific journals, Journal of Food Science and Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, as well as Food Technology magazine.

Access the heavy metals content collection.

About Institute of Food Technologists

The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) is a global organization of over 11,000 individual members from more than 90 countries committed to advancing the science of food. Since 1939, IFT has brought together the brightest minds in food science, technology and related professions from academia, government, and industry to solve the world’s greatest food challenges. IFT works to ensure that its members have the resources they need to learn, grow, and innovate to advance the science of food as the population and the world evolve. IFT believes that science and innovation is essential to ensuring a global food supply that is sustainable, safe, nutritious, and accessible to all. For more information, please visit ift.org.

Media Contacts

Dennis Van Milligen
Director, External Relations
Institute of Food Technologists
630-853-3022
[email protected]

Frannie Comstock
Manager, PR and Organizational Communications
Institute of Food Technologists
513-374-8900
[email protected]