Literature such as Upton Sinclair's The Jungle in 1906 about slaughterhouse operations would be a factor in the establishment of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) later that year.

[1] By 1935, two MIT professors, Samuel C. Prescott and Bernard E. Proctor decided that it was time to hold an international conference regarding this.

Regional sections were established in IFT as early as 1940 in northern California (San Francisco, Bakersfield, Sacramento).

In 1949, IFT moved into offices in Chicago and created a permanent position of Executive Secretary to run daily organizational operations.

Retired U.S. Army Colonel Charles S. Lawrence was named the first Executive Secretary, a position he would hold until 1961 when he was replaced by Calvert L. Willey.

IFT also communicates with the news media, using sixty scientists to discuss the scientific perspective on food issues.

[12] This event, which offers more than 100 scientific and applied education sessions and an expo featuring 1,000+ exhibiting companies, regularly attracts 23,000 food professionals from more than 90 countries.

Supported by its founding sponsors and guided by its advisory council, GFTC is designed to accelerate adoption and implementation of practical traceability solutions across the global food system.

The center works to deliver events, research, and support services that will help to increase understanding of food traceability across four business platforms: All awards except the Loncin prize have this reference[13] listed below.

Student association members may attend IFT programming at a discounted rate as well as student-specific events, competitions, and awards.

[17] Universities may petition the IFT Higher Education Review Board to receive curriculum program approval as well.