IFT tackles food safety, speed, and efficiency

The annual meeting of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), scheduled June 21-24 in New Orleans, brings together scientists, managers, executives, and other professionals from across the food business to discuss issues and technologies impacting the industry. In addition to educational programs and celebrations commemorating the organization's 75th anniversary, the show includes hundreds of food technology exhibits; here are some of the highlights.

Cereal drying​

The Ceres dryer is intended to dry and process coated ready-to-eat cereals. According to the manufacturer, the machine can handle up to 4,000 kg of product per hour.

Dryer features include a chainless conveyor, open-frame construction, and direct-drive fans. Additionally, the system includes features designed to increase operator safety, as well as a modular design intended to reduce and streamline installation time.

Buhler Aeroglide, Booth 5523​

Food safety education​

AIB offers courses covering a broad range of processing safety issues. Its Food Plant GMP/Sanitation workshop, for plant managers and staff, discusses the ins and outs of sanitation programs, including pest control, equipment and facility design, and inspections.

The company also provides online learning for firms looking to conserve travel budget. Its Food Safety Essentials course (targeting QA personnel, line workers, and others) enables managers to train English- and Spanish-speaking  personnel at once, on all aspects of facility and food safety.

AIB International, Booth 4623​

Moisture analysis​

The Computrac MAX 4000XL moisture analyzer, manufactured by Arizona Instrument,  provides food professionals the ability to test moisture to determine product quality. According to the manufacturer, the device provides accurate results and leads to reduced waste, energy consumption, and labor.

The analyzer’s loss-on-drying testing capabilities is said to offer shorter test times and boosted precision compared to conventional tests. The company also offers units for testing levels of product with very low moisture levels.

Arizona Instrument, Booth 4515​

Shelf-stable ingredients​

The company offers a line of shelf-stable potato and bean products for addition to a variety of processed foods. The items are made from US-grown crops.

According to the manufacturer, the ingredients are cooked, dried, and packaged with safe, advanced processing methods. In addition to its standard line of bean and potato products, the company can customize its ingredients according to a processor’s needs.

Basic American Foods, Booth 1552​

Dry ingredients​

This manufacturer offers a variety of equipment geared toward measurement of dry ingredients. Applications include coffee, milled products, spices, sugars, flavor emulsions, and others.

Equipment on display in its IFT booth include the LS 13 320 laser diffraction particle analyzer. The unit reportedly combines ease of use with a high degree of precision and accuracy.

Beckman Coulter Life Sciences, Booth 2656​