Chinese American Food Society

The Chinese American Food Society (CAFS) is an American-based organization founded in 1974 to develop relationships among Chinese-born food scientists in academia, government, and industry. Its current president is Fur-Chi Chen, a professor at Tennessee State University.

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 first award was issued in 1983 and it was awarded to Stephen S. Chang who received the Professional Achievement Award. A Distinguished Service Award was established in 1987, and awards for graduate students and high school students were also created in 1983 and 2002, respectively.

The CAFS is partnered with the IFT and its International division, and also publishes an online newsletter two to four times a year. They are currently headquartered in Ashton, Maryland.

In 2004, CAFS was a main supporter of the Food Summit in China event held jointly with the IFT and the Chinese Institute of Food Science and Technology (CIFST) that was held in Beijing on November 7–10 of that year.

At the 2007 IFT Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois, they hosted a symposium on Chinese health food involving food science and technology issues on July 27–28.

References

• 2001 IFT Annual Meeting and Food Expo in New Orleans, Louisiana Session 17 by CAFS on business opportunities in a post-WTO world - Accessed May 22, 2007.
• 2003 IFT Annual Meeting and Food Expo in Chicago, Illinois Session 81 cosponsored by CAFS on product development of functional food and natural health food products in Asian markets - Accessed May 22, 2007.
• Chronology of Chinese-Americans in the United States: 1960-78 - Accessed May 22, 2007.
• Directory of Associations information on CAFS - Accessed May 22, 2007.
• Food Summit in China 2004 - Accessed May 22, 2007.
• Global Chinese Health Food Symposium 2007 information that CAFS is cosponsoring - Accessed May 22, 2007.
• Official website