Newswise — CHICAGO – North American consumers are turning to healthier food choices as they realize how diet impacts the risk of cardiovascular disease and Type 2 diabetes–two of the biggest threats to public health. Showing how the food industry is responding to this movement, the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), IFT Student Association (IFTSA) and CanolaInfo are pleased to announce the finalists for the annual Heart-Healthy Product Competition.
“We know that consumers are looking for healthier food choices and the food industry is focused on meeting this demand,” noted Shaunda Durance-Tod, M.Sc., R.D., CanolaInfo program manager at the Canola Council of Canada. “This includes heart-smart dietary choices with the right types of fat–predominately unsaturated–in place of saturated and solid fats.”
IFTSA members were asked to create new, heart-healthy food products that are low in saturated fat and free of trans fat. Products may be for any of meal of the day or a healthy snack and must include canola oil, which is low in saturated fat. The three finalist teams will present their products at IFT’s Wellness 12 Conference March 28-29 at the InterContinental Chicago Hotel in Rosemont, Ill., where the first place team will be announced. The winning team will receive a check for $3,500, complimentary registration to the 2012 IFT Annual Meeting & Food Expo in Las Vegas for all team members and a trophy. The second and third place teams will receive a check for $2,500 and $1,500, respectively.
The three finalist teams and their products are as follows: Cornell University
Hummus+: Hummus made with chickpeas, sweet potato and butternut squash.
The Ohio State University Morning Glory: A frozen, toaster-ready sweet potato waffle.
University of California, Davis Torteoat: A yogurt-custard tart with an oat-based crust topped with fruit purée.
Since its beginning in 1975, the IFTSA has grown to over 2,000 student members from around the world. As the premiere food science and technology student organization, IFTSA prepares its members for advancement in food-related disciplines by providing a community for valuable connections and enhancing professional and technical skills. This competition integrates IFT’s and IFTSA’s commitment to health and wellness and the organization’s long term vision of “healthier people everywhere.”
On-Site Competition Timeline: • Poster presentations and product samplings: Wednesday, March 28, 11:30 AM-12:30 PM• Oral presentations: Wednesday, March 28, 4:30-5:30 PM • Winners announced: Thursday, March 29, 10:45 AM
For more information, please visit http://www.ift.org/community/students/competitions/heart-healthy.aspx. For more information about Wellness 12, go to http://www.ift.org/meetings-and-events/wellness.aspx.Registration for Wellness 12 is complimentary for credentialed media. To register, please contact Stephanie Callahan at 312-604-0273, [email protected], or Mindy Weinstein at 312-604-0231, [email protected].###
About IFTThe Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) is a nonprofit scientific society. Our individual members are professionals engaged in food science, food technology, and related professions in industry, academia, and government. IFT’s mission is to advance the science of food, and our long-range vision is to ensure a safe and abundant food supply, contributing to healthier people everywhere.
For more than 70 years, the IFT has been unlocking the potential of the food science community by creating a dynamic global forum where members from more than 100 countries can share, learn, and grow. We champion the use of sound science across the food value chain through the exchange of knowledge, by providing education, and by furthering the advancement of the profession. IFT has offices in Chicago, Illinois and Washington, D.C. For more information, please visit ift.org.
About CanolaInfoCanolaInfo is the information source about canola oil for consumers, health professionals, chefs, media, educators–everyone who wants to know more about one of the world's healthiest oils. The CanolaInfo team is supported by Canada's canola growers, crop input suppliers, exporters, processors, food manufacturers and governments. For more information, go to canolainfo.org.
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