Issue 7 I March 4, 2025

Suzanne-Mutz Darwell

Firmenich, Retired

There were three panelist presenters: Debbie Levine, Director of Global and Scientific Affairs at Ingredion; Dana Daneker Gasiorowski, Creative Director and Principal Flavorist with IFF; and Patrick Riolo, Product Development Manager with Allen Flavors.

The NYIFT and CNJIFT Subsection Scholarship Committee reviewed over a dozen applications from both graduate and undergraduate students, as well as their individual contribution to the Section. That evening we awarded 5 Graduate Student awards, valued at $2,000 each, and 3 Undergraduate Awards valued at $1,500 each.

In addition, we also hosted a Poster Competition, where the scholarship judges reviewed all the posters and determined the three top winners for which they received a cash award of $750 for First, $500 for Second and $400 for Third place. Find the names of all the award winners elsewhere in this newsletter. Continue Reading

Scholarship Recipients, Poster Presentations, Career Fair, & Panel Presentation

The CNJIFT/NYIFT Student Night was held on Thursday, February 20^th on the Rutgers University Cook College Campus in New Brunswick, NJ. We had 116 people in attendance.  

Each year, CNJIFT & NYIFT hold a joint meeting where the focus is on students. At this meeting, Graduate students as well as Undergraduate students present their research in poster format. The meeting provides a unique opportunity for members in industry to see future professionals in food science more closely and also gain an appreciation of exciting new directions in food science education.

Many students and professionals came to hear the panel presentation Uncovering Artificial Ingredients: Risks, Regulations & Revolution. Dr. Donald Schaffner, Extension Specialist in Food Science and Chair of The Food Science Department at Rutgers University moderated the session.

The panel consisted of: Ms. Debbie Levine, Director of Global Scientific & Regulatory Affairs at Ingredion; Ms. Dana Daneker Gasiorowski, Creative Director and Principal Flavorist at IFF; and Mr. Patrick Riolo, Product Development Manager at Allen Flavors.

During this meeting, poster presentations are judged by the NYIFT Awards Committee and the top three presenters received monetary awards.

Rutgers University Scholarship and Poster Award Winners with Carol Boney (CNJIFT Past Chair / Chair of Scholarship Committee) and Rutgers Department Chair Dr. Donald Schaffner

Student Networking at Career Event and

Company Tabletops

Bismah Masood – 1st Place $750: Packaging Attributes and Nutrition

Alba Paz Sanchez – 2nd Place $500: Forced Exercise - Induced Hot Flush Model in Ovariectomized ICR Mice

Hayley Palmer - 3rd Place $400: Cannabidiol May Improve Exercise Capacity in Ovariectomized Mice

We also give special thanks to the judges this year – Carol BoNey, Marc Meyers, Gloria Dematos Stern, Paul Takhistov, Beverly Tepper, Amy Gilliand, Terry Fino, Spencer Sullivan, Charles Feldman and John Specchio.

A big THANK YOU goes to Emma O'Mara at Rutgers University and Natalie Duran from Montclair State University for coordinating all the logistics for the interviews and Poster Presentations.

Montclair State University Award Winners with Spencer Sullivan (NYIFT Past Chair) and

Montclair State University Professor Dr. Charles Feldman

North Atlantic Region College Bowl

The Rutgers University Food Science Graduate Student Association will be hosting the North Atlantic Region College Bowl Competition in New Brunswick, NJ on Saturday, March 29, 2025. Participating schools are: Cornell University, McGill University, Rutgers University, University of Connecticut, University of Maine and University of Massachusetts (Amherst).

They are looking for support and sponsors; judges are also needed.

Below are the programs for the balance of the 2024/2025 NYIFT/CNJIFT year.

Join us for an exciting evening of NHL hockey and NYIFT comradery. This is a very popular event.

We have a limited number of tickets, and we have sold-out this event every year. Last year, we added a pre-game reception, hosted in the scenic Prudential Center Skyloft.

Everyone enjoyed the pre-game socialization so we will do the same this year (complimentary hors d’oeuvres and cash bar).

Then, we will shift gears to take our seats together in our reserved section to root for our hometown skaters! New this year – by popular demand, we have shifted this event to a weekend evening so that it will be a more relaxing and enjoyable time.

A professional NHL game - for just $80 a ticket that includes the pre-game reception, light snacks, and cash bar! Learn more about the game.

Join leading food science professionals as they dive into the pivotal role of sustainability in the food industry. Discover the latest trends, innovative strategies, and cutting-edge advancements in sustainable food production, processing, and consumption.

Hear firsthand how companies are driving their sustainability agendas and explore real-world examples of sustainable practices. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the conversation shaping the future of food!

Exhibitor Booth Registration Open - Get Your Booth Today!

Registration Opens in March

This initiative aims to address the lack of involvement with universities and young professionals in the field, and to provide a platform for those interested in getting involved with the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT).

Our goal is to bridge the gap between IFT and young professionals by exploring different avenues for engagement and involvement. This group will offer opportunities for networking, professional development, and collaboration among peers who share a passion for Food Science.

In addition to posting the exciting events planned by CNJIFT and NYIFT, we have hosted several happy hours across North and Central New Jersey and New York City for casual networking and socializing with other young professionals. As this group continues to grow, we are always looking for more suggestions on how to tailor it to be more beneficial to our members.

Continue Reading

Welcome 2025-2026 NYIFT Officers

The call for new Officers has been answered and NYIFT is pleased to announce the officers for the 2025 / 2026 year who will step in to their new positions on September 1, 2025.

Chair                                     Margaux Mora                        Ingredion, Inc.

Chair-elect                            Debbie Levine                        Ingredion, Inc.

Past-Chair                              Suzanne-Mutz Darwell           Firmenich, Retired

Secretary                               Gina Cobianchi                      Nestle US Nutrition

Secretary-elect (Exp ‘26)        Elizabeth Weir                       PepsiCo

Treasurer                               Gloria Dematos Stern             GStern Consulting

Treasurer-elect (Exp. ’26)      Jordan Allen                          Ingredion, Inc.

Director-at-Large (Exp. ’26)   Terry Finocchiaro                   Retired Independent Consultant

Director-at-Large (Exp. ’27)   Sophia (Yangyang) Jin          Sun Chemicals

There are still numerous volunteers opportunities available for both NYIFT and CNJIFT; if you are interested, please contact the NYIFT Office at NYIFToffice@nyift.org

The Officers for CNJIFT will be announced at a future date.

February New Member Welcome

Thank you for supporting NYIFT & CNJIFT. Your contributions help fund the NYIFT Scholarships and Awards Program. A star (*) indicates a new Corporate Sponsor for 2025 (as of 2/28/25).

• ABRAZIL LLC*
• Accurate Ingredients / Ingredient Resources
• Beverage Hill Int'l, Inc.*
• Brad-Pak Enterprises, Inc.

• CAPUA 1880*
• Dempsey Food
• Domino Foods / ASR Group*
• Ecuadorian Rainforest, LLC
• Gold Coast Ingredients
• Hunter, Walton & Co., Inc

• IFPC*
• Microthermics, Inc.
• OSF Flavors
• Siemer Specialty Ingredients*
• Wego Chemical Group*

We invite your organization to support NYIFT/CNJIFT through Corporate Sponsorship. Your support will benefit both the organization and the Food Industry. In turn, your company will benefit from the association in these ways:

• A full list of Suppliers Day attendees will be provided detailing names, companies and contact information
• Complimentary employment listing posted both on our website and in our e-newsletter (standard cost is $200 per ad per month)
• Your company will be listed and highlighted as a Corporate Sponsor on our website and in each issue of our e-newsletter.
• A Sponsorship Certificate will be sent to you via email for use at your discretion

The current annual cost for Corporate Sponsorship is $350; however, Corporate Sponsors who are also Suppliers Day participants will pay the normal fee for a booth and a reduced Corporate Sponsorship cost of $250. In addition, Corporate Sponsors will have their logos included on the online Expo floor plan.

We use most of the Corporate Sponsorship funds to support student scholarships and other NYIFT/CNJIFT programming.

The Corporate Sponsorship year runs January 1 through December 31 – so now is a great time to become or renew as a NYIFT Corporate Sponsor.

For more information, please reach out to Katy Taylor, our Section Administrator at NYIFToffice@NYIFT.org.

Contact Us! Please note, to contact the NYIFT Office or any officer the e-mail address is: NYIFToffice@NYIFT.org

Article Submissions: If you have any articles that you would like considered for publication in future issues of NIFTY News please send them to:  NYIFToffice@NYIFT.org and put Article for Submission to the NIFTY News in the subject line.