Largest Gathering of Food Professionals Convenes in New Orleans June 11-14

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 10, 2011

Largest Gathering of Food Professionals Convenes in New Orleans June 11-14
Experts discuss the effects of the Oil Spill on food safety

WHAT: Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) 2011 Annual Meeting & Food Expo®

WHERE: New Orleans Morial Convention Center (MCCNO)

WHEN: June 11-14, 2011

DETAILS: More than 15,000 attendees are expected to convene in New Orleans June 11-14 for the IFT 2011 Annual Meeting & Food Expo, the only annual event that brings together professionals involved in the science and business of food. The scientific program includes more than 100 educational sessions focusing on the hottest topics in the food industry and 1,200 poster presentations led by food science and technology experts. The Expo is the industry’s largest collection of equipment, ingredients, processing and package suppliers with 1,000 companies showcasing the newest global food trends, products, techniques and tools together under one roof.

The Gulf Coast Oil Spill and its effect on food safety is one of the topics in this year’s educational sessions. Multiple presentations will focus on lessons learned in the past year, the impact on the seafood industry and science-based studies about seafood safety. Presentation speakers include John Finley, LSU Professor in the Food and Science department and Calvin Walker, Ph. D, D.V.M. (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine), lead analyst for the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration (NOAA).

The Surgeon General of the United States, Vice Admiral Regina M. Benjamin, MD, MBA, a graduate of Xavier and Tulane Universities, will give a presentation on obesity prevention and how the new MyPlate icon (just announced last week at a press conference where Dr. Benjamin spoke) will help Americans use the new dietary guidelines to make healthy food choices.

Founded in 1939, the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) is a nonprofit professional academic society with more than 18,000 members working in food science, technology and related professions in academia, industry and government. As the authoritative voice of food science and technology, IFT contributes to public policy, opinion and research on a global scale. IFT exists to advance the science of food and the long-range vision is to ensure a safe and abundant food supply contributing to healthier people everywhere.

IFT’s last meeting in New Orleans was in 2008, and this year’s meeting is set to generate nearly $18 million in economic impact.

WEBSITE: http://www.am-fe.ift.org/cms/

MAJOR EVENTS: (All events held at MCCNO, unless noted otherwise)

• Sun, June 12, 8:30-10:15 a.m.: Keynote Session―Delivering Science: Changing the Image of Food Science in the Marketplace featuring Michael Specter, staff writer for The New Yorker and author of Denialism, How Irrational Thinking Hinders Scientific Progress, Harms the Planet, and Threatens our Lives, La Nouvelle Ballroom
• Sun, June 12, 10:30a.m.-Noon: Responding to Food Safety and Defense Crisis—workshop features experts from the FDA and IFT on how to respond to a food safety issue such as the E. Coli outbreak in Europe, Room 392
• Sun, June 12, 1:30-3 p.m.: “One Year After the Spill and Beyond: Lessons Learned from Gulf Seafood” session featuring LSU professor John Finely and Calvin Walker, Ph. D, D.V.M., lead analyst for NOAA, Room 383
• Mon, June 13, 6:15 a.m.: IFT Student Association/Feeding Tomorrow 5K Fun Run & Walk, Audubon Park, 6500 Magazine St, Shelter 10
• Mon, June 13, 11 a.m.-Noon: Press Briefing featuring White House Chef Sam Kass and USDA Deputy Director Robert Post to discuss how the new MyPlate food icon will help Americans make healthier food choices, Room 273
• Mon, June 13, Noon-1 p.m.: Press Briefing featuring Chad Nelson ,USDA representative from the “One Year After the Spill and Beyond: Lessons Learned from Gulf Seafood” session, Room 273

· Mon, June 13, 4 p.m.: Vice Admiral Regina M. Benjamin, MD, MBA, Surgeon General of the United States, will discuss obesity prevention, Room 293

· Tues, June 14, 11 a.m.-Noon: Press conference with the Patrick Wall, former chairperson of the European Food Safety Authority and the Bob Gravani, IFT president, will discuss the E. Coli outbreak in Europe and what can be done to make sure it doesn’t happen in the United States, Room 273

EXHIBIT HALL: Halls D-I
HOURS: Sun, June 12: Noon-5 p.m.
Mon, June 13: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Tue, June 14: 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

PRESS OFFICE: Room 271, Above Hall H
PHONE: 504-670-5329
HOURS: Sat, June 11: 2-4 p.m.
Sun, June 12-Tues, June 14: 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Credentialed media receive complimentary registration.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
IFT: Mindy Weinstein, cell: 312-399-9779, mweinstein@ift.org
New Orleans CVB: Tara Letort, 504-566-5019, tletort@neworleanscvb.com; Kelly Schulz, 504-421-0962, kschulz@neworleanscvb.com
MCCNO: Tim Hemphill, 504-582-3039, themphill@mccno.com

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