Industry Links
Additional resources from the food and flavor industry. Take a look!
Flavor Chemistry
Peek into the world of flavor professionals! Here are some good places to start for an inside look at articles and organizations geared toward flavor chemists.
- Society of Flavor Chemists
http://flavorchemists.com - Allureds Perfumer & Flavorist
http://www.perfumerflavorist.com
Food & Beverage Industry
Did you know there are specialized organizations for food industry professionals in areas like meat, dairy and even candy? There are also magazines dedicated to these specific areas. Here are just few:
- Institute of Food Technologists
http://www.ift.org - American Meat Science Association
http://www.meatscience.org - American Dairy Science Association
http://www.adsa.org - National Confectioners Association
http://www.candyusa.com - American Association of Cereal Chemists
http://www.aaccnet.org - Food Navigator
http://www.foodnavigator.com - Beverage Daily
http://www.beveragedaily.com - Bakery and Snacks
http://www.bakeryandsnacks.com - Confectionary News
http://www.confectionarynews.com - PMCA: An International Association of Confectioners
http://www.pmca.com/ - American Association of Candy Technologists
http://www.aactcandy.org/indexchicago.asp - Research Chefs Association
http://www.culinology.com/ - Global Meat News
http://www.globalmeatnews.com
Regulatory
To keep food safe for us to eat, food companies must follow strict laws and regulations monitored by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Flavor companies work with the Flavor Extract and Manufacturers Association. Explore their websites for information on food safety, food quality and the many programs they sponsor to keep consumers healthy and informed.
- Food & Drug Administration
http://www.fda.gov/Food - United States Department of Agriculture
http://www.usda.gov - Flavor Extract and Manufacturers Association
http://www.femaflavor.org
Chemistry
This branch of science plays a large role in the food, beverage and flavor industries, as people study how ingredients react together to provide consumers with the best-tasting product that meets their needs.
- American Chemical Society
http://www.acs.org - Association of Analytical Communities
http://www.aoac.org/ - NIST Chemistry WebBook
http://webbook.nist.gov/chemistry/ - The Good Scents Company
http://www.thegoodscentscompany.com/
Sensory
What do people think about this new flavor? What do consumers want to see on the shelves? If this product were on the shelves, would people buy it? These are all questions sensory professionals tackle through methods such as product tastings, consumer focus groups, surveys and statistics.
- Society of Sensory Professionals
http://www.sensorysociety.org
Marketing & Design
All businesses need to promote how they can help customers and some need to work directly with customers to help them gain ground in their particular area of expertise.
- American Marketing Association
www.ama.org - AIGA: Professional Association for Design
http://www.aiga.org
Entrepreneurship
Sometimes venturing out and starting their own company is what interests people. It comes with a great deal of risk, but the rewards can be great, as well.
- Entrepreneur Magazine
http://www.entrepreneur.com - U.S. Small Business Association
http://www.sba.gov
Student Organizations
There are a number of industry organizations that have student groups for young adults engaged in coursework in areas such as food science and chemistry. Students connect with other students, as well as industry professionals who share their interests. They can build skills and knowledge, apply for scholarships, and more!
- Institute of Food Technologists Student Association
http://www.ift.org/community/students.aspx - Research Chefs Association Student Advisory Committee
http://www.culinology.com/students - American Chemical Society
http://portal.acs.org/portal/acs/corg/content - American Meat Science Association
http://www.meatscience.org/Page.aspx - American Dairy Science Association
http://www.adsa.org/Membership/StudentResources/StudentAffiliateDivision.aspx