CHICAGO, July 21, 2025 — IFMA The Food Away from Home Association has added the noted food scientist, nutritionist, and regulatory expert Dr. Joy Dubost to its roster of subject matter experts.
Dubost will provide association members with an inside-the-Beltway view of national policy, including the Administration’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative and how its measures could affect the industry.
She will also offer updates on food-related regulatory and legislative developments at the state and local level and what those might mean for the trade.
Her insights will be delivered via a regular posted recap and through participation in the association’s conferences and virtual events.
In addition, Dubost will be a featured speaker during the association's monthly Regulatory & Trade Challenges briefings. This members-only webinar focuses on the latest developments relating to the administration’s policies impacting food-away-from-home, including any coming from the MAHA movement. The next briefing is scheduled for July 23 at 1 p.m. CT.
“With Dr. Dubost's expertise and connections, we’ll be getting the inside scoop, spin-free and untainted by politics,” said Phil Kafarakis, President and CEO of the association. “Members will learn what’s likely to impact their businesses as soon as any Washington insider might.”
"These are extraordinary and complex times for our industry,” said Dubost. “I look forward to supporting IFMA members in understanding the developments surrounding MAHA and the broader food regulatory environment, and in navigating the path forward with clarity and confidence."
In addition to holding a PhD in food science, Dubost is a registered dietician. Much of her 20-plus-year career has been spent at the convergence point of science, regulation, and industry.
Her prior positions include five years as Senior Director of Wellness and Regulation for the National Restaurant Association, and two years as Senior Director of Science & External Affairs for the Beer Institute.
Her work within the private sector includes health and science-focused positions at Unilever, Lipton, and PepsiCo.
Dubost is a frequent source for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, and NPR, among others. She has testified a number of times before Congressional committees on health and science-related issues.
The Florida resident earned her doctorate at Penn State and a master’s in food science from the University of Georgia. Her undergraduate degree is in food science from Hood College.
Dubost completed her registered dietician eligibility at University of Michigan Hospital.
IFMA The Food Away from Home Association serves the whole foodservice market, from manufacturer to supply chain to restaurants, c-stores and onsite operations like college dining halls.