MSU Team Food Science Team Named Finalist in Product Development Competition

A team of MSU students has been named one of six finalists in the annual Mars/IFTSA Product Development Competition to be held Sunday, July 14, at the 2013 IFT Annual Meeting in Chicago.

A team of students from Michigan State University has been named one of the finalists in the annual Mars/IFTSA Product Development Competition.

Food science college student teams across the country were tasked with creating a new food product and carrying the concept through marketing and production, much like a commercial product development team. Judges evaluate the potential success of product entries in today's market and technical problem-solving skills used in product development.

Michigan State University and five other finalist teams will present their products on July 14 during IFT’s Annual Meeting and Food Expo in Chicago, July 14-16.

The MSU team’s product is called “Minus-the-Moo!” and is an all-natural, no-sugar-added, delicious, almond milk-based frozen dessert that gives a tasty way to get fruits and vegetables, too.

TEAM CAPTAIN (Mara Laurain) was quoted: “We’ve been working with this product for almost a year now through many re-formulations, with consumer input, technical challenges, and late nights.  The team is definitely ready to show IFT and the food industry all that we have accomplished with our new product designed to appeal to a wide range of consumers who are looking for non-dairy, lower calorie alternatives.”

The winning team will receive a check for $4,000.

Since its beginning in 1975, the Institute of Food Technologists Student Association (IFTSA) has grown to over 2,000 student members from around the world. As the premiere food science and technology student organization, IFTSA prepares its members for advancement in food-related disciplines by providing a community for valuable connections and enhancing professional and technical skills.

For more information on the competition, please visit: http://www.ift.org/community/students/competitions/product-development.aspx.

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