FONA International brought 55 teachers from local Chicagoland schools to its Discover FONA community education program.
Part of the company’s annual Teacher Institute, the program teaches educators the science behind food and flavors and includes experiments, full tours of the facility and taste tests. The teachers may then share the knowledge gained from the experience with their students, opening them to potential career paths in food science.
“We’ve learned that teaching a student food and flavor science is fantastic, but when you spend the day with a teacher, that knowledge gets multiplied,” said FONA community education director Katie Sudler. “They take what they learn back and it spreads. It’s so exciting.”
Activities for the day included sessions and experiments on sensory science; analytical chemistry; taste medication and encapsulation. The group also took rotations around the laboratory including several tastings, such as cola (how sugar influences taste); chocolate milk (how fat impacts flavor delivery); and barbecue sauce (the culinary approach to flavor).
The event, free of charge, included complimentary meals and welcomed teachers from Geneva, Naperville, Lake in the Hills and more.
