LAS VEGAS — The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) has launched a new public-education campaign called “A World Without Food Science” (www.worldwithoutfoodscience.org) that is focused on generating greater awareness of the role food science plays in ensuring a nutritious, safe and abundant food supply.
The campaign will feature a series of videos that highlight how food science has responded to major food issues and provided positive solutions on a global scale.

The IFT kicked off the campaign with a video that was unveiled June 26 during the keynote session at the IFT’s annual meeting and food expo in Las Vegas. The video depicts what a grocery store would be like without the existence of food science, and includes black and white footage showing empty shelves, rotten fruit, insect-infested grain and spoiled meat. The scene changes to color when the voiceover explains how dedicated food science professionals make it possible to have food that is safe, flavorful and nutritious.

The concepts of the video are based on an IFT scientific review titled “Feeding the world today and tomorrow: the importance of food science and technology” published in the peer-reviewed journal, Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety.

In addition to the initial video, the campaign includes five separate video segments that feature interviews with food-science experts showing the positive impact of food science on the public. The first two video segments of the series were presented during the keynote address in Las Vegas. The remaining three videos from the World Without Food Science campaign will be released later this year. Topics include nutrition, environmentally responsible food production and developing food products for specific populations. Each video will be distributed nationwide and featured along with facts and additional resources on www.worldwithoutfoodscience.org.

“As a scientific society, education is at the core of our mission as we advance the science of food,” said Roger Clemens, Ph.D., and president of IFT “It’s especially important for the public to understand where their food comes from. This campaign tells the story of food science in a new visual way so that consumers understand the role of food science in their daily lives.”