---
title: IFT Resources on Key Topics
description: Explore IFT's resources on topics including ultra-processed foods, additives, heavy metals, Generally Recognized as Safe, sugar reduction, and more.
---

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From inspiring legislation to spurring misinformation, certain key topics continue to attract attention in the global food system. This collection from the Institute of Food Technologists, compiling resources from high-level overviews to scholarly articles to deep-diving white papers, addresses these key topics, providing you with the information you need to know to understand and communicate about these important issues.

## General Resources

- Journals 
    - [Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety](https://ift.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/15414337)
    - [Journal of Food Science](https://ift.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/17503841)
- [Advocacy](https://www.ift.org/policy-and-advocacy/advocacy) 
    - [Comments](https://www.ift.org/policy-and-advocacy/policy-developments/ift-comments)
- [IFT FIRST](https://www.iftevent.org/) 
    - [Keynotes](https://www.iftevent.org/program/keynotes)
    - [Scientific Sessions](https://www.iftevent.org/program/scientific-sessions)

## Nutrition

- Food Additives/Colors 
    - [Additives Overview](https://info.ift.org/ift-additives-and-sugar-alts-overviews) 
          - Includes use cases, regulatory status, scientific studies, safety information, and considerations for substitutions for 17 additives including artificial colors
    - [Food Additives Toolkit](https://info.ift.org/hubfs/0324_IFT%20Food%20Additives%20Toolkit%20-%20FINAL.pdf) 
          - The history of food additives and preservatives, use cases for direct and indirect additives, top concerns, and the regulatory landscape surrounding additives
- Sugar Reduction 
    - [Alternative Sweeteners and Sugar Reduction](https://ift.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/toc/10.1111/(ISSN)1750-3841.sugar-reduction) 
          - A special collection from IFT's scholarly journals including articles on sweetness perception, sensory aspects, use cases for alternative sweeteners, and human physiological response.
    - [Sugar Alternatives At A Glance](https://info.ift.org/hubfs/Science%20and%20Policy/Sugar%20Alternatives%20At%20A%20Glance.pdf)  
          - Explores common alternate names, commercial derivation, and sweetness intensity compared to sugar for 19 common sweeteners
    - [Sugar Alternatives Overview](https://info.ift.org/ift-additives-and-sugar-alts-overviews) 
          - Includes use cases, regulatory status, scientific studies, safety information, and considerations for substitutions for 19 artificial and natural sweeteners
- Ultra-processed Foods (UPFs)/Processing 
    - [Processing Toolkit](https://www.ift.org/-/media/policy-advocacy/ift-comments/efsa/ift-food-processing-toolkit.pdf) + [UPF Addendum](https://info.ift.org/hubfs/Ultra-processed%20Foods%20Addendum.pdf)
    - [Journal of Food Science Ultra-processed Foods Special Issue](https://ift.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/toc/10.1111/(ISSN)1750-3841.Ultra-Processed-Foods) 
          - This issue collects the most recent advances in the characterization of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), the impact of innovative ingredients and technologies on their quality and safety, the expectation and perception of consumers, and the influence of their consumption on nutrition and health. Mostly free to read.
    - [Reducing Food Loss & Valorizing Food Processing Side Streams White Paper](https://www.ift.org/-/media/policy-advocacy/files/fsts_improve_food_nutrition_security.pdf)
    - [Sustainable Production of Nutritious Foods Through Processing Technology White Paper](https://www.ift.org/-/media/policy-advocacy/files/ift_spi_white-paper_processed-foods_1023.pdf)
    - [Ultra-processed Foods Content Collection](https://www.ift.org/news-and-publications/by-topic/food-health-nutrition/ift-ultra-processed-foods-content-collection)

Food Safety

- Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) 
    - [GRAS Overview](https://info.ift.org/hubfs/Science%20and%20Policy/GRAS%20Overview.pdf)
- Heavy Metals 
    - [Challenges, Risks and Potential Solutions to Mitigate Heavy Metal Exposure White Paper](https://info.ift.org/heavy-metals)
    - [Heavy Metals Content Collection](https://www.ift.org/news-and-publications/by-topic/food-safety/ift-heavy-metals-content-collection)
- Traceability
  
    - [Global Food Traceability Center](https://www.ift.org/gftc)

## Miscellaneous

- [Food Research Call to Action on Funding and Priorities](https://www.ift.org/policy-and-advocacy/advocacy/funding-white-paper)

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