Its current president is Yao Olive Li, a professor at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.
Founded at the 1974 Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) annual meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, the organization was first called the "IFT-Chinese Association," then changed to "The Association of Chinese Food Scientists in America" before changing to its current name in 1983.
The CAFS is partnered with the IFT and its International division, and also publishes an online/electronically issued newsletter two to four times a year.
Over the past 45 years, CAFS has been established as a platform for Food Science and Technology professionals to exchange information, collaborate on various taskforce activities, and to promote knowledge advancement, technology innovation and transfer across several continents.
Each year there are always one or more CAFS lifetime members who are recognized as IFT Fellows, Annual Achievement Awardees, and recipients of various award and recognition from a broad range of national and international organizations.