The Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology - AIFST

Kicking off 2025, celebrating food scientists as heroes! #AIFST is kicking off 2025, celebrating the contribution that food science and food scientists make to innovation, food safety, food security and the future of food across the agri-food sector. Read about food scientists as heroes: https://ow.ly/wBCz50QmQ0q after all it is food scientists who provide ongoing contributions to a safe and suitable food supply. Thank you to Deon Mahoney for this contribution to the AIFST journal, food australia. #AIFST #FoodScience Michael Depalo Heather Haines Marc Barnes Angeline Achariya FTSE GAICD FAIFST Superstar of STEM Anna Barlow GAICD Gregory Harper Emma Norgrove Tom Lewis Clive Russell Tom Debney Andrew Tilley Sarah Crisp Alison Wright Melissa Garland Dipon Sarkar, Ph.D. Lisa Szabo Craig Shadbolt Robin Sherlock Dr Lisa Ronquest-Ross Vicky Solah Stuart Johnson ASKAFOODTECH PTY LTD

Happy New Year to all our wonderful AIFST food science community! May your experiments be fruitful, your flavors be harmonious, and your product development reach new heights of delicious innovation in the coming year. Here's to unlocking the secrets of taste, unravelling the mysteries of ingredients, and continuing to elevate the science of food safety and food security. Cheers to a year filled with exciting breakthroughs, delectable discoveries, and a banquet of success! May your 2025 be seasoned with joy, fulfillment, and the perfect blend of professional satisfaction. Happy New Year, Food Scientists! Let 2025 be your year to GROW, LEARN, CONNECT & CHAMPION with AIFST To find out more about what we have in store for 2025 and to join, visit our website: www.aifst.asn.au #AIFST #foodscience Fiona Fleming Michael Depalo Marc Barnes Gregory Harper Heather Haines Emma Norgrove Clive Russell Cecilia Ngo Soumi Paul Mukhopadhyay, PhD Sarah Crisp Rai Peradka Andrew Tilley Deon Mahoney Dipon Sarkar, Ph.D. Julian Cox Tom Lewis

In our career series, we ask, what do Quality Assurance professionals do? #foodaustralia, the AIFST journal, looks at the critical role that quality assurance professionals play in the food industry to ensure that food and beverage products are safe for consumption. Amanda Evans-Lara shares her knowledge and insights looking at QA professionals key responsibilities, knowledge base and key personal attributes. For more information on AIFST and membership which gives you priority access to the food australia Journal, visit our website: https://www.aifst.asn.au/ Fiona Fleming Michael Depalo Deon Mahoney Marc Barnes Jasmine Lacis-Lee Sarah Crisp Kim Jorgensen Amanda Evans-Lara Heather Haines Gary Kennedy Dipon Sarkar, Ph.D. Robin Sherlock #AIFST #FoodScience

Careers in food science - Food microbiologists: Who are they? What do they do? When you think about a food microbiologist, what image comes to mind? The role has evolved considerably and is no longer restricted to lab coats and Petri dishes! Nowadays, there are also food microbiologists working exclusively to develop computer models to assess product safety, develop a machine learning algorithm to detect food spoilage or work with humans and data to develop industry guidelines and government regulations. Be inspired by our career article and then join us in Sydney in March for the Food Microbiology Conference: 5-6 March 2025! Save the date! Attending this event provides a unique opportunity to stay informed, connect with professionals, and contribute to advancing the field. To find out more about careers in food science, check out the AIFST website: https://ow.ly/eqVw50Q4ol8 #AIFST #FoodScience Fiona Fleming Michael Depalo Anna Barlow GAICD Angeline Achariya FTSE GAICD FAIFST Gregory Harper Marc Barnes Heather Haines Melinda Stewart Deon Mahoney Dipon Sarkar, Ph.D. Julian Cox Lydia Buchtmann

Fun food science fact for the festive season The vibrant red hue of cranberries comes from a natural pigment called anthocyanin. Anthocyanins are water-soluble pigments in the flavonoid group and are found in various fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Interestingly, the color of anthocyanins can change depending on the pH of the food in which they are used. This means that you might observe different shades of red, purple, or even blue based on the ingredients' acidity. So, the science behind anthocyanin adds visual appeal to your food and reflects the fascinating chemistry happening in your favorite festive foods! Please share your fun food science facts. For more information on food science, visit the #AIFST website: https://ow.ly/mxu950QjxiB

Fun food science fact for the festive season Ever wonder why biscuits and other baked goods often include baking soda or baking powder? It's all about chemistry! These leavening agents release carbon dioxide gas when mixed with wet ingredients and exposed to heat. The gas gets trapped in the dough or batter, causing it to rise and giving your biscuits that light and fluffy texture. During the holiday season, this chemical reaction is crucial in creating perfectly soft and chewy baked treats we all love. So, when you're baking up a batch of festive treats, remember that it's the magic of chemistry in action, turning your ingredients into delicious holiday delights! For more information on food science, visit the #AIFST website: https://ow.ly/qsaM50QljeW Fiona Fleming Michael Depalo Emma Norgrove Carilee Hicks Cassandra Farlow Heather Haines Deon Mahoney Melinda Stewart ASKAFOODTECH PTY LTD

AIFST invites abstracts for oral presentations in the Emerging Researcher Session at the 2025 Food Microbiology Conference, held on 5th & 6th March 2025 at the Novotel Sydney Olympic Park. The John Christian Young Food Microbiologist award was created as a means of encouraging and supporting the development of young food microbiologists. The award recognises excellence in food microbiology, particularly among early career professionals and underscores the critical role of food microbiologists in ensuring a safe and sustainable food supply. The key eligibility criteria for the award are: 1. Individual studying or working in the area of food microbiology 2. Under 30 years of age at the time of nominating 3. Financial member of the AIFST or an affiliated professional body (such as IAFP, or ASM) 4. Studying at an Australian University or TAFE OR employed in Australia.   Finalists are chosen on the basis of a 500-word summary of a food microbiology topic. The topic and content must be related to food microbiology, including general interest topics, research work, literature review, risk assessment, case- or epidemiological study.   Closing date for Submission: COB Friday, 17th January 2025 Questions: aifst@aifst.com.au Apply here: https://lnkd.in/g_Uhabm7 Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your research to a professional audience! #AIFST #FoodScience Fiona Fleming Michael Depalo Mark Turner Kate Howell Dipon Sarkar, Ph.D. Julian Cox Marc Barnes Melissa Packham 🌱🛠️ GAICD Mark Turner Mark Bradbury Gregory Harper Heather Haines Jasmine Lacis-Lee Malik Hussain Ali Khoddami Senaka Ranadheera Craig Shadbolt Victoria Wansink Snehal Jadhav Andrea McWhorter Deon Mahoney Hugh Dircks

Sharon Natoli Speaking with Confidence and Growing Your Influence – 4 Feb – 4 March Back by Popular Demand: Amplify Your Leadership Potential in 2025! Are you ready to: 🔹 Develop your leadership skills? 🔹 Boost your confidence and workplace influence? 🔹 Master message clarity and conquer nerves? If so, join our upcoming short course with the fabulous Sharon Natoli. The course consists of: 3 x 90 minute online sessions for aspiring female leaders in food science will be held fortnightly over a 6 week period from Oct-Nov 2024. Session 1: Barriers, Intentions and Challenges (4 Feb) Session 2: How to Increase Your Confidence (18 Feb) Session 3: How to Increase Your Influence (4 Mar) For more course details go to the registration link - https://lnkd.in/gDG9_4iy or visit the AIFST website. Registrations are limited to 25 so be quick! #AIFST #FoodScience Fiona Fleming Michael Depalo Sharon Natoli Melissa Garland Carilee Hicks Angeline Achariya FTSE GAICD FAIFST Superstar of STEM Anna Barlow GAICD Marc Barnes Gregory Harper

A date for your 2025 diary! Mark your calendar today for a great opportunity to reconnect and network with colleagues and friends early in the New Year. Kick off your shoes and roll into an unforgettable evening at our Barefoot Bowls Social Event! 🔹 When: Tuesday, 6 February 2025 🔹 Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM 🔹 Where: Fitzroy Victoria Bowling and Sports Club What better way to kick off your weekend vibes early than with this classic Australian summer activity? Whether you’re a seasoned bowler or just in it for the laughs, this is a fantastic opportunity to reconnect and network with colleagues and friends in a relaxed, casual setting. Spaces are limited, so don’t miss out! Register here - https://lnkd.in/gRFCqYF3 For more details and to secure your spot, visit the AIFST website. We can’t wait to see you in February! #AIFST #FoodScience Fiona Fleming Marc Barnes Gregory Harper Sarah Crisp Carilee Hicks Angeline Achariya FTSE GAICD FAIFST Superstar of STEM Anna Barlow GAICD Charles Fisher Troy Gosetti

THANK YOU TO OUR 2025 FOOD MICROBIOLOGY CONFERENCE PARTNERS! We are thrilled to introduce and thank our partners for Food Microbiology 2025, whose invaluable support helps make this conference a success - 🔹Hygiena 🔹Neogen 🔹Shimadzu 🔹Thermo Fisher Scientific 🔹FMCG Industry Solutions🔹Eurofins 🔹Key Diagnostics 🔹NSW Food Authority 🔹Cell BioSciences 🔹Wishmed 🔹Biomerieux 🔹Edwards 🔹The Australian Society for Microbiology 🔹The Australian Association for Food Protection. The 2025 theme, Bugs in the Balance: A World of Diversity, delves into the fascinating complexities of food microbiology. Highlights include sessions on: 🔹 Food Virology 🔹 Lessons from the Outbreak Files 🔹 Future Food Microbiology Challenges 🔹 Fermentation Reimagined 🔹 The new edition of the Green Book These sessions, and many more, will deepen your understanding of the challenges and opportunities shaping this dynamic field. Register today! Details and registration are available here: https://lnkd.in/g7sQwNWN Stay tuned for the full program, coming soon. We can’t wait to see you there! A huge thank you to our incredible AIFST Food Microbiology Conference Partners for their continued support! #AIFST #FoodMicrobiology25 #FoodScience Hygiena Neogen Australasia SHIMADZU CORPORATION Australian Association for Food Protection Thermo Fisher Scientific Eurofins bioMérieux Wishmed NSW Food Authority Key Diagnostics Pty Ltd Cell BioSciences FMCG Industry Solutions Pty Ltd Clive Russell Fiona Fleming Michael Depalo Melissa Garland