EP 55: Rethinking Approaches to Obesity, Precision Fermentation Takes Off, GLP-1 Drugs: A Boon for Product Development

March 3, 2025Uncategorizedfood as medicine, GLP-1, precision fermentationOmnivore

Obesity policy expert Ted Kyle shares his thoughts on how the food industry should respond to consumers’ need for more healthful food options, and why he’s not a fan of the food as medicine concept. Process engineer Shalima Sreenath, whose previous work with Beyond Meat focused on scaling up transformative alt-meat technologies, shares the exciting new possibilities of precision fermentation technology in the food and ag space. With anti-obesity drugs on the rise, Barb Stuckey, chief new product strategy officer at Mattson, talks about the abundant innovation opportunities for companies.

Plus: This episode of Omnivore is brought to you by IFT Virtual Workshops, where you stay “in the know” instead of “on the go.” Learn more about all four exciting new virtual workshops on the Career Development page at ift.org

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

EP 54: Honey’s Aroma and Sweetness, Can We Refine the Definition of UPFs?

February 17, 2025Uncategorizedultraprocessed foodsOmnivore

Food Technology’s deputy managing editor Kelly Hensel spoke with assistant professor and lead researcher Emily Mayhew about the mechanics of honey’s sweetness, how aroma impacts perceived sweetness, and what product developers can take away from the research. Food Technology’s Julie Larson Bricher talks with Dr. Susanne Bügel about leading a unique two-year international consensus-building project at University of Copenhagen that aims to develop the next generation of the Nova classification system.

Plus: This episode of Omnivore is brought to you by IFT Membership. Connect with our diverse community and discover a world of new opportunities. Explore the benefits of membership at ift.org/membership.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

EP 53: A Food Scientist Processes Nova and UPFs, Red-Hot Food Dye Substitutes, What’s Next for America’s Dietary Guidelines?

February 3, 2025UncategorizedDietary Guidelines for Americans, food color additives, ultraprocessed foodsOmnivore

Food scientist Matt Teegarden offers a thoughtful take on the high-profile food classification system Nova and its characterization of ultra-processed foods. IFT’s Renee Leber delves into food color additive bans, why color reformulations can be challenging, and what manufacturers need to keep top of mind when adjusting colors in various applications. Dr. Joanne Slavin, a former member of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans Advisory Committee, chats with Omnivore about what to expect in the latest iteration of the DGAs for 2025-2030.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

EP 52: 2025 Food Industry M&A Forecast, 2025 Food Safety Trends, Securing Research Funding

January 20, 2025Uncategorizedfood safety, mergers and acquisitions, research fundingOmnivore

Get the latest insights from the food science and technology community in the January 2025 episodes of the Omnivore podcast.

Jeff Grogg, a seasoned R&D professional who is founder and managing director of JPG Resources, shares his perspective on the 2025 food industry merger & acquisition market. Dr. Willette Crawford, principal consultant and owner of Katalyst Consulting, provides her forecast on whether the food safety challenges of 2024 will continue to be top problems for the food industry in this New Year, and what advancements in food science are trending to help the food system overcome them. Matthew Moore, an associate professor in the Department of Food Science at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, discusses the dire state of agrifood research funding in the United States and tips on how to find and secure funding.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

EP 51: Talking Trends With Mintel’s Jenny Zegler, Traceability Rule Challenges, Legacy Brands Product Innovation

January 6, 2025Uncategorized2025 consumer trends, food traceability, product innovationOmnivore

Jenny Zegler, director, Mintel Food & Drink, shares insights from the research firm’s 2025 consumer trends forecast. Hilary Thesmar, chief science officer and senior vice president of food safety at FMI, The Food Industry Association, discusses the challenges to implement the FDA Traceability Final Rule. Circana’s Sally Lyons Wyatt explains why legacy food and beverage brands are under pressure to innovate, and how they’re stepping up to the challenge.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

EP 50: Building Trust in Food Science, Food As Medicine, Food Safety Tech Game-Changers

December 23, 2024Uncategorizedfood as medicine, food safety, food science, science communicationOmnivore

In this “Best of 2024” episode of Omnivore, Food Technology revisits the top food science and thought leader interview segments of the year. Charlie Arnot explains why facts are not enough to build trust in food science. Instacart’s Beatrice Abiero talks about her company’s efforts to turbocharge the food as medicine movement. Process authority Larry Keener talks about three game-changing food safety technologies—UV and other light-based systems, atmospheric cold plasma, and hydroxyl radicals—and how they are helping the food industry beat back foodborne pathogens.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

EP 49: Ag Futurist Robert Saik, @TheBlackFoodScientist Shares the Science, The Potential of Generative AI

December 9, 2024UncategorizedOmnivore

In this “Best of 2024” episode of Omnivore, Food Technology revisits the top food science and thought leader interviews of the year. Renowned agrologist Robert Saik discusses the ways that science and technology are critical if food production is to meet the needs of a fast-growing global population. Brittany Towers Lewis, aka The Black Food Scientist, talks about how and why she got into making her popular Instagram and TikTok video series, Science in Sixty Seconds. Amazon’s Justin Honaman discusses the potential impact of generative AI, the challenges in adoption, and use cases for the industry.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

EP 48: The Ins and Outs of Indoor Agriculture, Food Safety Tech Game-Changers, What’s Trending in Food Regulations and Policy

November 18, 2024Uncategorizedfood legislation, food safety, indoor growingOmnivore

Get the latest insights from the food science and technology community in the November 2024 episodes of the Omnivore podcast. Eddy Badrina, CEO of indoor agriculture company Eden Green Technology, explains how the company’s patented technology works, and why he’s optimistic that it positions Eden Green for success in a challenging field. Process authority Larry Keener talks about three game-changing food safety technologies—UV and other light-based systems, atmospheric cold plasma, and hydroxyl radicals—and how they are helping the food industry beat back foodborne pathogens. IFT’s Anna Rosales offers a status update on state additive bans, dietary guidelines and the long-awaited Farm Bill.

Plus: This episode of Omnivore is brought to you by Almond Board of California. Almonds offer endless possibilities for innovation. Visit Almonds.com/Trends to learn more.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

EP 47: 2024 Tech Trends Outlook, Foodservice Trends, Explore Ag STEAM Camp

November 4, 2024UncategorizedOmnivore

Get the latest insights from the food science and technology community in the November 2024 episodes of the Omnivore podcast.

Science and technology editor Julie Larson Bricher talks about Food Technology’s 2024 Technology Trends Outlook and where the investments are being made in 2025. Liz Moskow, food futurist and founder of Saase, explores the latest in foodservice trends and their impact on CPG product development. Food scientist and foodpreneur Angela Cauley talks about the success of her organization’s inaugural Explore Ag STEAM Camp, which introduced teens to career pathways in food and agriculture science and resulted in some tasty new takes on cornbread.

Plus: This episode of Omnivore is brought to you by Almond Board of California. Almonds offer endless possibilities for innovation. Visit Almonds.com/Trends to learn more.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

EP 46: Making Bean Flour More Functional, AI in Product Development, Healthy Indulgences with Cookies

October 21, 2024UncategorizedOmnivore

You’ll get the latest food system knowledge and know-how from a stellar line-up of expert guests in the October episodes of the Omnivore podcast.

Iris Joye and Navneet talk about their research at the University of Guelph, where they are working to make bean flour into a more versatile, functional ingredient for formulating gluten-free foods. Rachel Zemser, founder and principal at A La Carte Connections, shares her experiences working with AI to enhance the product development process and its potential impact on the work of food scientists. Shica Little discusses trends in the cookie category and her brand’s plant-based treats.

Plus: Satiate your hunger for knowledge, connection, and career growth with an IFT membership. Discover the benefits and activate yours at IFT.org/membership.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download