IFT FIRST: Annual Event and Expo was held July 14-17 at McCormick Place in Chicago. Focusing on Food Improved by Research, Science, and Technology, the theme for this year’s event was “Collaboration + Innovation: How Can Food Science and Technology Transform the Food System?” 

Nothing says versatility like cheese. With a plethora of flavors, types, and textures, cheese resonates with consumers because it can be eaten alone as a snack, paired with crackers and sausage on a charcuterie board, used as a topping on pizza, as slices on char-grilled hamburgers, layered in lasagna and much more.

Natural cheese — and the diverse types of shredded, chunks, slices, string/stick, crumbled, cubes, ricotta, and all other forms — generated $17.4 billion in dollar sales, a year-over-year (YoY) increase of 7%.

R&D experts research, test and execute plans on innovation journey. The future of new product development within dairy is bright, particularly for categories that feature clean-label, reduced sugar, and zero-sugar-added categories, experts note.

On April 23, 1985, Coca-Cola Co. famously announced that it was trading in its Coca-Cola (aka Coke) soft drink’s nearly century-old secret formula for a new, sweeter one. Certain taste tests had shown that many consumers preferred the sweeter taste of Pepsi, so “New Coke” was the company’s answer to that particular problem.