Alina Surmacka Szczesniak, Polish-born, American food scientist, Died at 91

  Reseacher

Alina Surmacka Szcześniak was born on July 8, 1925, and died on July 23, 2016.

She was a Polish-born, American food scientist best known for her contributions to food texture.

During 2002, she received the plaque of Honorary President of the International Federation of Surveyors on behalf of her father, Wladysław Surmacki, who was to be President in 1942, but did not survive the war.

She attended Bryn Mawr College as a foreign student after the Second World War, which she spent in her native Poland.

She earned her graduate degree in food technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, then worked for General Foods in the field of food chemistry, focusing on texture studies.

Alina worked at General Foods from 1952 until her 1986 retirement, where she retired as a principal scientist.

He developed the now-standard Sensory Texture Profile Analysis, which analyzes, quantifies and places in correct sequence all textural properties perceived from the moment a piece of food is placed in the mouth until the last particle is swallowed.

During 1969, he was a Founding Editor of the Journal of Texture Studies and served for 10 years in that role.

During 1985, he became the first woman to receive the Nicholas Appert Award, the highest honor bestowed upon its members by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT).

which commended her pioneering work on food texture that led to its recognition as an important quality attribute affecting consumer acceptance and to its organization as a subdiscipline of food science.

Alina Surmacka Szcześniak is the only woman thus far to ever win the Nicholas Appert Award.

She was elected an IFT Fellow in 1981.

Alina Surmacka Szcześniak pased away at 91 years old.