The Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology at the Durban University of Technology will unveil 12 exciting new products designed and produced by students at its annual Food Product Launch on Wednesday, 2 November…

The Department of Biotechnology and Food Technology at the Durban University of Technology will unveil 12 exciting new products designed and produced by students at its annual Food Product Launch on Wednesday, 2 November. The event promises an eclectic range of consumable goods that can be sampled at the event.

Food Technology Lecturer, Mike Smith said: “Second-year students have been tasked to come up with concepts for new food ideas and products that can be mass produced and made commercially available. The product and production ideas had to be thoroughly researched to create a marketable product. Food ideas were generated during discussions and the final products are innovative, nutritious, well packaged and flavorsome. The project is a practical component of Food Technology Three and is a collaborative effort by staff and students. Products have been sampled, tested and analysed to provide a Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) per serving, where appropriate.

This year’s products include a semi-sweet pink ladies beer, the first melt-proof black liquorice ice-cream, a rooibos energy drink, a non-alcoholic amarula malt drink, a nutritional light stout, the first alcoholic ripple ice-cream, gluten free bread, nutritional peanut strips snack, a Rooibran snack, a reduced kilojoule maple syrup, fortified green banana paste and Junglebix whole wheat fruit slabs.

This is DUT’s 22nd Food Product Launch and over the years it has become a distinguished event. Students and staff look forward to sampling items that are novel and adventurous. Smith said: “We want to encourage consumers to move away from pre-conceived ideas about new products and break away from brand loyalty. We are striving to test the market with new interesting ideas.”

R7 000 worth of prizes has been sponsored by industry towards the project.

Products on Show
Alcoholic Ripple Ice Cream
The alcoholic ripple ice cream is made from vanilla ice-cream and a chocolate Tequila mixture, with the “bag in a bag” method thus creating a separate compartment in the bag. A starch has been used to form a thin film around the alcohol so that it may be fixed. With uniform pressure applied, the alcohol and ice- cream are extruded separately in a semi-solid state. Currently there exists no ice-cream with alcohol and ripples. Alcohol is anti-freezing agent, making this a novel product.

Non-Alcoholic Malt Drink
A non-alcoholic traditional West African brew made with amarula fruit which is indigenous to Africa, it has been introduced to South Africa in other fruit flavours but is not popular. Students are looking to license the product. Contains 11 different vitamins and is the only South African produced amarula flavoured beverage that is not a liqueur.

Nutritional Black Stout
A Guinness like product, black with a creamy foam head. It is a coffee-flavoured light stout, with the bitterness of a beer. Low in alcohol with nutritional value. One bottle will give you 27 minerals and vitamins equivalent to a third of the RDA.

Peanut Strips
A new type of confectionery, high in protein with essential fatty acids but is low in fats. Made with ground peanuts and canola fat in raspberry and peach flavor in red and golden orange. A healthy snack that has no cholesterol or added oil, made with natural peanut oil with no preservatives. Can be marketed in different flavours and colours. The ingredients have been reformulated to create the look of a liquorice-like stick, can be sold wrapped or bulked in counter-top clear containers.

Gluten Free Bread
Gluten free bread is not readily available in South Africa. The idea is to create commercially available gluten free bread to the mass public. Gluten is an allergen that causes celiac disease which compromises the immune system by damaging the lining of the small intestine and prevents absorption of vital nutrients. Gluten is found in wheat, barley, rye and possibly oats.

The bread is baked using a fungal amylase that works on carbohydrates speeding up the baking process. The enzyme works by breaking down starch in flour that speeds up the cooking process. The bread contains increased protein levels as it is made from brown rice flour which is more nutritional than white flour.

Rooibran Snack
The Rooibran snack is made from rooibos flavoured and infused bran. It is caffeine free and is low in tannin, a powerful pigment found in tea that can be a bowel irritant for some people. It is good for the digestive system as it is high in fiber and contains anti-oxidants that are good for mopping up free radicals. Can be eaten with milk or as a snack. Available in banana, vanilla and strawberry flavour.

Ladies’ Beer
Semi-sweet pink coloured ladies beer with 5% alcohol with possible flavours in strawberry, lemon, litchi and lime. Packaged in clear bottles. Has a stable head of foam like a conventional beer.

Rooibos Energy Drink
Rooibos Energy Drink with no caffeine but with caffeine alternatives, is designed to provide enhanced energy with added health benefit. Rooibos is an antioxidant and contains vitamins and minerals. Carbonated vanilla-flavoured and scented golden brown liquid. Contains energy boosters, ginseng and guarana.

Fortified Green Banana Paste
Yellow flavoured banana paste made from boiled, blanched and blended green bananas. The idea is to rival peanut butter with a nutritional banana paste, with a shelf life of at least three months without refrigeration. It has added whey protein for muscle building, calcium carbonate and vitamin c that is good for teeth and bone formation. Peanuts are an allergen and banana paste would be a healthy alternative. Bananas are also more readily available.

Reduced Kilojoule Maple Syrup
The Reduced Kilojoule Maple Syrup is organic, low in preservatives with 70-80% less kilojoules than maple syrup. Made with a blend of conventional carbohydrates and thickeners, non-nutritive sweeteners, with added colour and flavour.

Black Liquorice Flavoured Melt-proof Ice-cream
Black Liquorice Meltproof Ice-cream can warm up to room temperature without losing its shape. Made with specialised starch as an additive to maintain its shape and solidity. Society is accustomed to pastel coloured ice-cream. This is a novel adventurous product that challenges the conventional flavours and approach to making ice-cream. Made with liquorice plant extract which has medicinal uses, it is also low in calories, liquorice scented and flavoured. Good for events as it will not melt.

Junglebix Whole Wheat Fruit Slabs
Made from a mixture of shredded oats, fruit, nuts and honey. Contains pumpkin and sunflower seeds, almond, whole wheat flour which is high in minerals, vitamins, fiber and is low in sugar, cholesterol and calories. The whole wheat flour, oats and sunflower seeds are roller dried to provide the shredded wheat effect. Available in banana flavor, is a light, convenient nutritional snack. One serving can be used as a meal replacement.

– Karishma Ganpath