IFT First Keynotes to Focus on Misinformation, Restoring Confidence in Food System

The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) has announced lineups for two keynote sessions at IFT First, being held July 12-15 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

“Building Trust: Scientific Consensus and Policy for a Safer Food Future” will be held Monday, July 13 from 3-4 p.m. CT. The team will bring together experts from government, academia, industry, and consumer advocacy groups to discuss how consensus-building and transparent research inform public policy and public trust. The panel will be moderated by IFT Chief Science and Technology Officer Brendan Niemira, PhD, and will address challenges in defining scientific rigor, discuss the importance of transparency, and the role of scientific journals and agencies in shaping global standards.

Panelists will include:

• Andrew Bremer, MD, PhD, director of the Office of Nutrition Research at the National Institutes of Health
• Angela Odoms-Young, PhD, associate professor and director at Cornell University
• Anupama Joshi, MS, vice president of programs at Center for Science in the Public Interest
• Tia M. Rains, MD, global co-chair at the International Life Sciences Institute
• Mary Ellen Camire, PhD, professor of food science and human nutrition at the University of Maine School of Food & Agriculture

“Scientific rigor is more than a label; it’s a commitment to transparent methods, accountable interpretation, and consensus built in the open. When we’re clear about how evidence is generated and evaluated, we strengthen policy and rebuild public confidence in science,” said Niemira. “In this keynote, we’ll look at how stakeholders can align on credible standards so policies are grounded in evidence, and people can see why the conclusions deserve their confidence.” Niemira recently authored an article

“Science Communication in the Age of Misinformation: Restoring Confidence in Food Innovation” will take place on Tuesday, July 14 from 1-2 p.m. CT, uniting experts in media, academia, and industry to share strategies for engaging diverse audiences, countering myths, and promoting evidence-based dialogue. The panel will be moderated by Bill McDowell, editor in chief of Food Technology and vice president of content and channel strategy at IFT, and will help attendees learn how to leverage storytelling, digital platforms, and transparent messaging to champion the integrity of food science and technology worldwide.

Panelists will include:

• Laura Lindenfeld, PhD, executive director and professor of communication at the Alda Center for Communicating Science at Stony Brook University
• Charlie Arnot, CEO of the Center for Food Integrity
• Roxi Smith, food science content creator at Hydroxide
• Laura Chalela Hoover, MPH, RDN, executive vice president of food and beverage at Edelman US

“Effective science communication should be a conversation that blends of empathy and rigor. It starts with acknowledging consumer concerns and identifying shared values, then clearly demonstrating how scientific consensus is developed and applied. That combination is what makes credible information more accessible, more likely to be heard, and more likely to be trusted,” said McDowell.

Other related IFT sessions will include:

• “What Evidence-Based Communication Strategies Can Food Scientists Use or Adopt to Counter Misinformation and Build Trust?” featuring: Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, MS, RDN, president and CEO of the International Food Information Council (IFIC); Alvin Lee, director of the center for processing innovation at Illinois Institute of Technology’s institute for food safety and health; Veronica Jaramillo, food scientist and science communicator at the Food Truth Project; Prateek Sharma, associate professor at Utah State University; Lynn Warner, head of North American regulatory, taste, and wellbeing at Givaudan; and Denisse Colindres, senior manager of nutrition communication for the Americas at Beneo.
• “How Do Effective Food Safety Cultures Contribute to Consumer Trust?” featuring: Layal Karam, associate professor of food safety at Qatar University; Lilana Casal-Wardle, senior advisor of food safety and supply chain risk management at The Acheson Group; Bertrand Emond, ambassador and culture excellence lead, Campden BRI; Lone Jesperen, principal and founder of Cultivate SA; Conrad Choiniere, director of the office of microbiological food safety at the Food and Drug Administration; Robert Prevendar, chief food safety and QA officer of Yum! Brands.