McGill University Food Science Team Wins Smart Snacks for Kids Competition at IFT FIRST

CHICAGO – August 22, 2023 – Food science students from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, claimed top honors in the Institute of Food Technologists Student Association (IFTSA) Smart Snacks for Kids Competition for its Hungry Monster chocolate-flavored tart that kids can build by themselves by filling the tarts and decorating them into hungry monsters using fun decorations. The competition, now in its sixth year, challenged students to develop a fun and nutritious food or beverage product targeted at kids and/or teens that also abide by the USDA’s “Guide to Smart Snacks in School” recommendations. The competition was held last month at IFT FIRST, the annual event for the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), a nonprofit scientific organization committed to advancing the science of food and its application across the global food system.

The winning team consisted of Montreal natives Cassandra Popovich and Valerie Leclerc, as well as Jiachen Wei from Shanghai, China. The trio attributes its success to numerous factors, including the knowledge gained pursuing their bachelor’s degrees in courses such as food product development, food packaging, and quality assurance. Prior to attending IFT FIRST, the team participated in the Sustainable Food System Solution Research Fair hosted by McGill University.

“This event allowed us to showcase our product for the first time to the public while also educating people on the different sustainable ingredients that we used,” shared Popovich. “We learned a lot about sustainability through the preparation for the poster and from the communications with other peers and professionals, and we collected important information on how to improve our product.”

In the future, Leclerc aspires to work in a food manufacturing facility in either Quality Assurance or R&D, while Popovich will pursue her master’s degree in dairy engineering in France. Meanwhile, Wei will start pursuing her master’s degree at McGill focusing on lab work with nanocrystals.

“We are super proud of all the hard work we've put into Hungry Monster. Winning the Smart Snacks for Kids Competition was so exciting, and it is proof that we are in a field that we belong in! We can't wait to see what the future holds for us as food scientists,” added Popovich. “If there is one important lesson that this experience has taught us, it's that with hard work, nothing can stop you from achieving your goals.”

The IFTSA Achievement Award and Competition winners were recognized during the IFTSA Closing Ceremony, which was held on July 18 at McCormick Place in Chicago. IFTSA is a student-governed community of IFT members and the mission-driven organization executes programming and competitions throughout the year, supports student members and chapters, and aims to develop the leaders in the future of the science of food.

About Institute of Food Technologists Student Association

The Institute of Food Technologists Student Association (IFTSA) is a student-governed community of more than 2,000 IFT members spanning 60 Chapters in 59 countries. IFTSA’s vision of a global community of inspired and informed students who are prepared for a future in food drives its mission to enrich the academic experience and empower students to thrive individually and together. To prepare the future and celebrate the community, IFTSA provides opportunities beyond the classroom and lab, grows student networks to facilitate meaningful and lasting connections, as well as includes and promotes diverse perspectives and backgrounds to foster a culture of belonging. For more information, visit ift.org/community/students.

About Institute of Food Technologists

The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) is a global organization of approximately 12,000 individual members from more than 100 countries committed to advancing the science of food. Since 1939, IFT has brought together the brightest minds in food science, technology and related professions from academia, government, and industry to solve the world’s greatest food challenges. IFT works to ensure that its members have the resources they need to learn, grow, and advance the science of food as the population and the world evolve. IFT believes that science is essential to ensuring a global food supply that is sustainable, safe, nutritious, and accessible to all. For more information, please visit ift.org.

Media Contact

Dennis Van Milligen
Senior Manager, Public and Media Relations
Institute of Food Technologists
630-853-3022
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