Food Classification
Processed Foods and Health: Balancing Evidence and Everyday Eating
Nutrition Today, 2026
Supported by IAFNS Working Group on Food Classification
IAFNS Annual Meeting
IAFNS June 24-25 Summer Science Symposium -- at the National Press Club
The IAFNS Annual Summer Science Symposium is a unique gathering of scientific and regulatory experts. The focus of all sessions is on science that supports credible decision making by government regulators, industry professionals, academic researchers and other stakeholders across the food and beverage ecosystem.
Low- and No-Calorie Sweeteners
Effects of Non-Nutritive Sweeteners and Sweet Taste Exposure on Weight Management, Biomarkers of Health and Sweet Taste Preference—A Review of the Evidence from Recent European Consortia Studies
Nutrients, 2026
Supported by IAFNS LNCS Committee.
Non-nutritive sweeteners are consumed to reduce intake by providing a sweet taste with little to no energy. Despite regulatory approval and extensive use, uncertainty remains about their long-term role in weight management and health and about whether exposure to sweet taste itself, independent of energy, influences these outcomes.
IAFNS Webinar
Cleaning in Low-Moisture Food Facilities and Practical Applications of a Novel Dry Cleaning and Sanitation Agent
June 16, 2026
Dry or low-moisture foods, whether a pet’s kibble or a child’s snack, may feel safe, but they still retain the potential for serious microbial risks. This webinar will include an overview of best practices for cleaning in low-moisture food production facilities as well as the application of a novel, evaporative, low-moisture, and antimicrobial liquid. IAFNS is pleased to collaborate with IAFP’s Food Hygiene and Sanitation PDG on this webinar.
Cognitive Health
Diet and the Developing Brain: A Systematic Review of Nutritional Influences on Adolescent Cognitive and Academic Outcomes
Advances in Nutrition, 2026
Supported by IAFNS Cognitive Health Committee.
Adolescence is a critical period of neurodevelopment, yet the role of nutrition in shaping cognitive and academic outcomes during this stage remains underexplored. This systematic review synthesizes evidence from 48 controlled trials and 25 prospective studies.
Carbohydrates
Does Low-Carbohydrate Diet Impede Endurance Sports Performance? Yes
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2026
The complex determinants of endurance sports performance vary according to exercise demands, the specific event, and the individual athlete. A key issue is the availability and integration of the oxidative use of muscle fat and carbohydrate (CHO) stores to supply energy.
GLP-1 Medications
GLP-1 Receptor Agonists
New England Journal of Medicine, 2026
GLP-1’s have several mechanisms of action, including reduction of gastric emptying, inhibition of glucagon secretion, beneficial changes in the intestinal microbiome, and direct effects on hypothalamic nuclei to enhance satiety which promotes weight loss.
Dietary Patterns
Circadian Alignment Through Time-Restricted Feeding: Implications for Health and Longevity
Annual Review of Nutrition, 2026
Time-restricted feeding (TRF), which confines food intake to a defined daily window, has emerged as a promising nonpharmacological strategy to improve health by aligning behavior and physiology with the endogenous circadian clock. Preclinical research has expanded substantially, now spanning both nocturnal and diurnal species, diverse dietary regimens, and varying intervention durations.
Protein
A Modern Take on Protein Nutrition Meets Evolving Consumer Perceptions
Journal of Nutrition, 2026
Surveys show that consumer interest in protein has risen dramatically in the last decade, as consumers increasingly report following a high-protein diet and use the protein content of food as a marker for healthfulness. Despite an increase in consumer interest in protein, there is still a limited understanding of how healthcare professionals can effectively support increased intake of protein.
Lipids
Rethinking Dietary Fat for the Aging Brain: The Roles of Ketosis and Fat Quality in Cerebrovascular Aging and VCID
Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 2026
How dietary fat composition and eating strategies impact multiple functions of the aging brain, and potential pathways that could support cerebrovascular resilience and cognitive health are examined in this review.
Sodium
Salt and Chronic Kidney Disease
Nature Reviews Nephrology, 2026
Disruption of sodium homeostasis has a central role in the development and progression of chronic kidney disease. Excess dietary sodium can overwhelm regulatory mechanisms and amplify pathways that promote kidney injury, hypertension and cardiovascular disease.
Emerging Science
Health Effects Associated with Alcohol Consumption: A Burden of Proof Study
Nature Health, 2026
The relationship between alcohol intake and health is complex with impact on multiple disease outcomes. Using Burden of Proof meta analysis, the study shows an association between alcohol intake level and disease risks/outcomes.
Gut Health
Recent Advances in our Understanding of the Gut Microbiome: An Analysis from the Gut Microbiota for Health Expert Panel of the British Society of Gastroenterology
Gut, 2026
The gut microbiome’s importance in health and disease has transitioned from fringe interest towards major global pursuit. A decade on, we appraise the considerable progress made in the field, while acknowledging ongoing challenges.