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Annual Meeting 2026

International Food Additives Council Announces

2026 Annual Meeting

The International Food Additives Council (IFAC) is excited to announce its 2026 Annual Meeting.
Join us in Savannah, Georgia from January 26 – 29 at the Alida Hotel for insightful discussions, engaging speakers, and timely topics shaping the future of our industry.

Explore the full agenda to see what’s in store — we look forward to seeing you there.

Register for the Annual Meeting here.

If you have any questions, please reach out to info@foodingredientfacts.org. We’re happy to help.

Hotel Information

When: January 26 – 29, 2026

Where: The Alida

412 Williamson St, Savannah, GA 31401

Book Your Room Here!
Room Block Closed January 6, 2026

Agenda

Monday, January 26 – Welcome Reception

  • 6:00 PM                      Welcome Reception
  • 7:30 PM                      Dine Arounds – More Details to Come!
  • 9:00 PM                      Optional Tour (Ghost Tour) $40/each – Please book on their website

Tuesday, January 27 – Education Session

  • 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM        Breakfast
  • 8:00 AM – 8:30 AM        Welcome & Update: Michael Huber & Carla Saunders
  • 8:30 AM – 9:15 AM        Asia Landscape for 2026 and beyond, Matt Kovac, Food Industry Asia (FIA)
  • 9:15 AM – 10:00 AM        EU Landscape Updates, Lucie McMurtry & Emma Ziche, Kellen Brussels

BREAK

  • 10:15 AM – 11:15 AM    US Landscape Updates, Miriam Guggenheim, IFAC Legal Counsel
  • 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM    Headwinds and Navigating the landscape, Kelly Horton, Dr. Deepa Handu & Charla Burill, Eat Right What are we hearing from consumers? How is it affecting their habits in the grocery store?
  • 12:00 PM –   1:00 PM    Lunch
  • 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM        Scientific Implications of Food Classification, Wendelyn Jones, IAFNS What does the future of food classification look like and how do we respond to it? Wendelyn Jones of IAFNS will discuss how scientists, regulators, and the public are using this information.
  • 2:00 PM – 2:45 PM        IACM Update, Sarah Codrea, IACM

BREAK

  • 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM      From Consumers to CPGs (From Retails to Consumers) Lori Kelly, LMK Consulting and Erin McCarthy, FMI What are retailers hearing from their customers? What information do they need to be more responsive and effective right now? This panel highlight those questions and address some responses.
  • 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM       Consumer Response, Wendy Reinhardt Kapsak, IFIC and Madelyn Mitchell, Innova What are consumers actually concerned about? What are we actually hearing from them? This panel will discuss what impact the current landscape is actually having on consumers and how we can respond.
  • 5:00 PM – 5:15 PM       Closing Remarks
  • 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM        Trolly Tour (90 minutes)
  • 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM        Dinner at The Olde Pink House

Wednesday, January 28        Committee Sessions

  • 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM        Breakfast
  • 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM        Microbial Food Cultures & Probiotics Task Force Meeting – (Open to all IFAC Primary/Supplier Members)
  • 9:30 AM – 10:45 AM      Phosphate Forum of the Americas (PFA) Meeting – (PFA members only)

BREAK

  • 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM    Lunch
  • 12:15 PM – 12:30 PM    State of the Association & Governance: Michael Huber & Carla Saunders
  • 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM      Regulatory Affairs Committee Meeting
  • 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM        Government Affairs Committee Meeting

BREAK

  • 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM        Standards/Policy Committee Meeting
  • 4:00 PM – 4:15 PM        Closing Remarks

Thursday, January 29

  • 7:45 AM       Breakfast
  • 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM      Board Meeting

*Agenda subject to change

Not a member? Email info@foodingredientfacts.org to learn more.

Kim Kardashian Says She Puts Sea Moss In Her Smoothies. Should You?

02/04/2020  – But turns out, sea moss has been used as an ingredient for centuries in coastal countries such as Ireland, Spain, and Jamaica, where one popular soft drink contains the seaweed, plus condensed milk, vanilla, and nutmeg. It’s been harvested for its medicinal and nutritional properties in Ireland at least since the 1800s during the Irish Potato Famine, according to the International Food Additives Council. 

View the article on Refinery29

One man’s trash: Practical Innovation targets upcycled food waste to drive sustainable NPD

03/18/2019 – Food waste has been an industry concern for some time and there are a multitude of ingredients available that manufacturers can use to both extend shelf-life and fulfill consumer expectations for quality, safety and experience. The European Commission (EC) recently released a study investigating the relationship between date marking on food labels and food waste and according to the International Food Additives Council chief, Robert Rankin, ingredients are often the unsung hero.

View the article on Food Ingredients First

Industry coalition supports new labeling act

06/08/2018 – Frustrated by cities proposing warning labels on soft drinks and a recent California judge’s ruling on coffee, more than 60 organizations on June 7 announced the creation of the Coalition for Accurate Product Labels. Food and agricultural groups in the Coalition for Accurate Product Labels include the Grocery Manufacturers Association, the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, the American Bakers Association, the American Farm Bureau Federation, the American Sugarbeet Growers Association, the Corn Refiners Association, the Frozen Potato Products Institute, the Independent Bakers Association, the International Bottled Water Association, the International Food Additives Council, the Juice Products Association, the National Grocers Association, the National Pork Producers Council, the National Potato Council, SNAC International, and the Sugar Association.

View the article on Food Business News

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