‘Imagine’, an innovative range of functional fruit-based smoothies,
containing nutraceutical ingredients which can benefit the skin, brain
or energy levels, was awarded 1st prize (the UCC Food Innovation
Trophy) at the recent New Food Product Development Showcase at UCC.
The Showcase is an annual exhibition of new food products developed by
students from the BSc Food Science and Technology and BSc Food Business
degree programmes at UCC as part of their final year research projects.
Students Grace Cahalane (Glanmire, Co. Cork), Elaine Cahill (Rathmore,
Co. Kerry), Josephine Carey (Skibbereen, Co. Cork), Jennifer Finn
(Douglas, Cork), Anthony Fitzgerald (Tralee, Co. Kerry), Lisette
Madigan (Cobh, Co. Cork) and Daithi O Connor (Tipperary Town), who had
been working on the project for the past 5 months, celebrated their win
at a reception, sponsored by Beamish and Crawford, in the UCC Staff
Restaurant.
The trophy was presented by Mr John Magill of Enterprise Ireland, one
of the judges, who praised the winners for their originality and
product design, and praised the high standard of all the products
presented.
‘Imagine’ also won the Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre (APC) Award for
Best Functionality. The APC is a multidisciplinary research centre
focussing on gastrointestinal health and its sponsorship of this event
reflects the centre’s commitment to development of a vibrant functional
food industry in Ireland.
The importance of health in the development of new food products was
also highlighted by Dr John O’Brien, Chief Executive of the Food Safety
Authority of Ireland, a guest at the Showcase, who, in a speech at the
end of the evening, complimented all the students for their
consideration of health and safety issues in the development of their
products, which are key issues for consumers today.
The Showcase Event, sponsored by Limerick County Enterprise Board and
the UCC/Food Industry Partnership Board, was attended by many visitors
from the food industry and other invited guests, as well as staff and
students of UCC, who tasted and viewed the selection of products.
Mr Michael Cantwell, representing the Limerick County Enterprise Board,
who have been long-term partners with UCC in the Showcase, advised the
students of the opportunities that exist for future development and
commercialisation of food products by young food entrepreneurs.
This year the products came from the dairy, meat, beverage, fish and bakery sectors.
Second prize went to the product ‘Golden Devils’, a breaded black
pudding snack. This team consisted of Deirdre Collins
(Bishopstown, Cork), Wenbin Lu (Wilton, Cork), Denise McSweeney (Ovens,
Co. Cork), Lisa Miskella (Ballincollig, Co.Cork), Christina Murphy
(Aghabullogue, Co. Cork), Martina O’Connell (Donoughmore, Co. Cork),
David Stringer (Douglas Road, Cork) and Catriona Treacy (Tallow, Co.
Waterford).
Third prize went to Colleen Creedon (Bandon Rd, Cork), Elisa Forde
(Doughcloyne, Cork), Andreas Hempel (Whitechurch, Co. Cork), Emma Lynch
(South Douglas Road, Cork), Deirdre McCarthy (Bandon, Co.Cork),
Elizabeth O’Loughlin (Castlemartyr, Co. Cork) and David Ruby (Blarney,
Co. Cork), for ‘Happy-O-Shan’, a Japanese-style soup based on
seaweed and other ingredients.
Finally, Ms Emer Cassidy of the AIB Bank on College Road presented a
special award for the best product packaging, which was also won by
‘Happy-O-Shan’.
197MMcS
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