Governance
IFIC is governed by a Board of Trustees, the majority of whom are academic researchers.
Current Board of Trustees
Philippe Caradec
Co-Chair
Vice President, Public & Government Affairs
Danone North America PBC
Fergus M. Clydesdale, PhD
Co-Chair
Distinguished Professor and Director of the Food Science Policy Alliance
University of Massachusetts
Russell Dyer
Co-Vice Chair
VP & Chief of Communications & Government Affairs
Mondelēz International
Regan Lucas Bailey, PhD, RD, MPH, CPH
Co-Vice Chair
Professor of Nutrition Science
Purdue University
Don Jones
Treasurer/Secretary
Vice President, Quality
Simply Good Foods USA, Inc.
C. Daniel (Dan) Azzara, PhD
Alan R. Warehime Professor
The Pennsylvania State University
Robert B Gravani, PhD
Professor Emeritus of Food Science
Cornell University, Department of Food Science
Giorgio Beltrami
Vice President, Research and Development
Barilla Group
Leigh Horner
VP, Corporate Communications and CSR
The Hershey Company
Regina Benjamin, MD
Bayou Clinic, Inc. & Former U.S. Surgeon General
Joe Kelsay
Biotech Affairs & External Engagement Leader
Corteva Agriscience
Deanne Brandstetter, MBA, RD, CDN
Vice President, Nutrition & Wellness
Compass Group, North America
Dorothy Lagg, MS
Director, Scientific & Regulatory Affairs
Mars, Incorporated
John D. Fernstrom, PhD
Professor of Psychiatry & Pharmacology-Chemical Biology
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Simin Meydani, D.V.M, PhD
Senior Scientist & Director Nutritional Immunology Lab
Tufts University
Timothy Sellnow, PhD
Professor, Strategic Communication
Nicholson School of Communication, University of Central Florida
Robert L. Thompson, PhD
Senior Associate
Center for Strategic & International Studies
Anna Maria Siega-Riz, PhD
Dean and Professor, Departments of Nutrition & Biostatistics & Epidemiology
School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts
Wamwari Waichungo, PhD
Vice President, Global Scientific & Regulatory Affairs
The Coca-Cola Company
Maha Tahiri, PhD
Adjunct Professor
Tufts Friedman School of Nutrition
Jeffrey Zachwieja, PhD
Senior Director, Global R&D Nutrition Sciences
PepsiCo
Public Liaisons
Public Liaisons are non-voting members of IFIC who work for a federal agency and have agreed to represent their organization and serve as advisors and subject-matter experts.
David M. Klurfeld, PhD
National Program Leader for Human Nutrition
USDA Agricultural Research Service
Dr. William Hoffman
Chief of Staff
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Jackie Haven
Deputy Director
USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion
Guiding Principles
Fulfilling Our Mission
Our mission is to effectively communicate science-based information on health, nutrition and food safety. We envision a global environment where credible science drives food policy and consumer choice.
Funding and Governance
IFIC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization governed by a Board of Trustees, the majority of whom are independent, academic researchers. Our work is primarily supported by grants and contributions from the private sector. IFIC is non-partisan. IFIC does not represent any company, industry or product. IFIC does not lobby or serve as an advocacy organization.
Furthering Our Scientific Values
IFIC is committed to promoting the values of transparency and scientific integrity. Therefore, IFIC derives its resources from peer-reviewed science and the work of authoritative bodies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, the European Food Safety Authority and others.
Gathering Consumer Insights
IFIC has commissioned research on consumer attitudes and behaviors for more than 30 years. Our research findings and funding sources are made available to the public. We often work in partnerships across sectors on consumer research and encourage input from government agencies, NGOs, academics and professional organizations.
Engaging with Scientific Experts and Organizations
As an organization funded primarily by the private sector, IFIC’s collaboration with independent organizations and outside experts in nutrition, food safety and agriculture helps ensure the integrity of our education and communications programs.