International Food Information Council Foundation

“The members of ific shall consist of companies with food and food related sales; companies, such as packaging or equipment suppliers, service providers, retailers, design firms, inspection/testing organizations, and canning/bottling companies, with an interest in nutrition and food safety issues; and non-industry organizations, such as research institutions, foundations, and associations, with an interest in nutrition and food safety issues (member companies). All member companies shall subscribe to the articles of incorporation and bylaws, support the purposes, mission and vision of ific, and agree to all conditions of membership established by the board of trustees and assembly. The board of trustees with the approval of the assembly may create other categories of associate membership.”

“The member assembly has the authority to vote on the following: electing trustees, officers, member company representatives, public liaisons, and lsi chairs/co-chairs; admitting new member companies; setting membership dues; approving the annual budget; approving bylaws changes; approving committees; and approving extraordinary corporate actions (such as, changes to the articles of incorporation, merger, dissolutions, etc.).”

“The member assembly has the authority to vote on the following: electing trustees, officers, member company representatives, public liaisons, and lsi chairs/co-chairs; admitting new member companies; setting membership dues; approving the annual budget; approving bylaws changes; approving committees; and approving extraordinary corporate actions (such as, changes to the articles of incorporation, merger, dissolutions, etc.).”

“The form 990 is prepared by an independent accounting firm and is carefully reviewed prior to filing by the organization's management team and legal counsel. A copy of the form 990 is provided to the finance committee for review before filing. The final form 990 is made available to the entire board of trustees after filing.”

“The organization requires the following categories of individuals to annually sign and submit a conflict of interest statement to the president and ceo, or senior vice president, finance and administration 1) board of trustees, 2) officers, 3) staff, and 4) other specific appointees as designated by the president and ceo or board of trustees. The president and ceo of the organization maintain and annually updates a file of conflict of interest statements signed by each of the above-named individuals. All board of trustee members receive a conflict of interest statement each year for completion following their election to the board. In addition, each new trustee receives a conflict of interest statement upon their election. If an individual has a conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest in connection with any ific foundation transaction or matter, they must immediately notify the president and ceo of the foundation, or the board chair, and disclose all of the material facts concerning the actual or potential conflict of interest and their relationship to the transaction or matter at issue. If the conflict of interest arises in connection with the activities of any deliberative body (eg , the board of trustees), the individual with the conflict must immediately disclose the conflict to the other members of the body and the individual must not participate in the deliberation, consideration or vote on the transaction or matter at issue. A notation must be made in the minutes of any meeting at which deliberation, consideration or vote on the transaction or matter at issue is undertaken indicating that the individual with a conflict or potential conflict of interest was excused from the meeting during the time consideration of the transaction or matter was undertaken, took no part in any discussion pertaining to the transaction or matter and refrained from voting on the transaction or matter.”

“Ceo compensation is reviewed by the ific executive committee at each annual meeting. This process includes review and approval by the committee using comparability data (including periodic reviews by an independent compensation consultant) and contemporaneous documentation and substantiation of the deliberation and decision.”

“The ceo makes recommendations to the ific executive committee and determines the compensation for other officers and key employees.”

“Ific does not publicly post its governing documents, conflict of interest policy, or financial statements beyond form 990, but provides them upon request in alignment with nonprofit best practices.”

“Developed, conducted and disseminated consumer research on public perception and behavior on topics including food, health, nutrition, food safety, sustainability, and food production. Based on data survey findings, developed outreach and information inititatives highlighting research findings. Convened meetings and webinars, along and in partnership with public health organizations, to share information on the state of evidence in food, food ingredients, dietary patterns and eating behaviors as well as food technology and emerging practices in agriculture production. Developed nutrition, food safety and food production resources for spanish and portuguese speaking audiences in latin america. Disseminated specific health and diet based resources via foodinsight.org, including evidence based information on dietary patterns, food safety, nutrients, agriculture production and sweeteners.”