Kerry Joins International Organization of the Flavor Industry

06 Feb 2017 --- International Organization of the Flavor Industry (IOFI) Executive Director Sven Ballschmiede announced that Kerry, Inc. has joined IOFI. Kerry becomes IOFI’s tenth company ordinary member, joining ADM Wild Europe, Firmenich, Givaudan, T. Hasegawa, IFF, V. Mane Fils, Robertet, Symrise and Takasago. 

Headquartered in Ireland, Kerry began forty years ago as a small dairy business. Over time, the company has broadened its focus to taste and nutrition and now serves global customers in 140 countries through its 23,000 employees and more than 100 manufacturing locations.

Speaking during an interview with FoodIngredientsFirst, IOFI Executive Director Sven Ballschmiede said: “In terms of flavoring product developments, the industry is very much in tune with our food and beverage customers’ needs. They in turn see consumer trends toward less salt and sugar, lower fat – and flavorings can play a role in making foods and beverages more appealing without compromising taste.”

“Informing consumers about what they may expect from the industry in terms of responsibly produced food in the future; meeting the demands for good food for a growing population worldwide, allowing them all to eat tasty food with a good conscience: These are opportunities for us to tell the flavoring story, how we are an industry full of innovation, focusing on safe products while always improving the taste experience. Our industry offers solutions that will help feed our planet in the future,” he explains.

“We monitor regulatory trends and work on supporting consistent standards wherever possible and advisable so that we as an industry can offer consumers globally safe products with high quality. And in places where the legislators are developing new regulatory frameworks, like in the Middle East, India and parts of Asia and South America, we share best practices from other regions so that they can benefit from the experiences of our colleagues from around the world.”

“To support consumer safety, we also use and promote highly reliable, state-of-the-art science to assure the safe use of flavoring materials and meet risk assessors’ needs.”

He added: “Kerry is a large multi-national company in our industry and we offer them the opportunity to be part of our global science, advocacy and communication efforts.”

“We are delighted to have Kerry as our newest member. The company brings enthusiasm and energy to our work on behalf of the global flavor industry,” Ballschmiede noted.

Kerry Taste & Nutrition President and CEO Gerry Behan added, “Kerry is a world leader in taste and nutrition and flavor is core to our global business. Through our membership in IOFI, the leading science and regulatory association for the global industry, we look forward to actively engaging with industry partners to advance areas of common interest and collaboratively address the challenges faced by our industry.”

by Elizabeth Kenward

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