About SAAFoST

The South African Association for Food Science and Technology (SAAFoST) is a national association concerned with advancing the knowledge of Food Science and Technology. This it does through encouraging scientific research, organising meetings, seminars, workshops and congresses, publishing papers and assisting in educational activities.  Currently SAAFoST has about 1400 members throughout Southern Africa - the Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Northern branches attend to the regional affairs of the Association.

WHAT DOES SAAFoST DO?

• Eight study grants and eight academic achievement awards are granted each year to Food Science and Food Technology students via their universities and technikons, respectively.
• A post-graduate scholarship is awarded annually.
• An International Congress is organised every second year.
• An award is made for the best local scientific paper presented at the Congress.
• An award is made for the best local poster presented at the Congress.
• Student Chapters at the various universities and technikons are under the supervision of the SAAFoST Branch Committees and financial assistance is made available.
• Workshops or mini-symposia addressing relevant issues are often held between congresses.
• Regular lecture meetings during which prominent local and overseas experts address members on subjects of interest are organised by Branch Committees.
• Information arising from congresses, workshops etc. is often printed and bound, and much of this material is housed in the State Library where it is available to members and the public.
• As a representative on the Food Legislation Advisory Group (FLAG), SAAFoST contributes towards the formulation and revision of food regulations as published by the Department of Health.
• Two Meritorious Awards for Journalism are made available for presentation every year - one for the press and the other for radio and television. The awards are made to authors or presenters of objective and scientifically correct articles in the local press or media that contribute towards sound consumer knowledge of controversial and complex food issues.
• SAAFoST was very instrumental in forming the Food Advisory Consumer Service (FACS) which was launched in January 1995. FACS is  primarily for the consumer who wants to be informed about food issues such as health, nutrition, safety, preservatives, colours, additives, chemicals, irradiation, processing, labelling etc.
• The Association responds to and challenges misleading articles, advertisements and claims concerning food processing and the food industry.
  

WHAT BENEFITS ARE THERE FOR SAAFoST MEMBERS?

• Each member receives a membership certificate, a member's handbook and a copy of the SAAFoST constitution and rules.
• Each member receives a regular monthly copy of the official SAAFoST Journal, SA Food & Beverage Manufacturing Review.
• Members are kept up to date with the numerous SAAFoST activities and receive regular invitations to lectures organised by their branches.
• Members regularly receive an information brochure comprising articles of interest called SAAFoST Snippets.
• Through membership of SAAFoST, individuals and companies are able to contribute towards, and gainfully participate in, a host of educational and promotional activities aimed at continuously elevating the standards of quality and professionalism in the food industry.
• Institution membership by companies is strongly encouraged because it contributes greatly towards the student study grants, scholarships and awards offered each year by the Association.
  

"SAAFoST is the Association for the caring, concerned food professional - it is active and dynamic and its members would like to keep it that way."