The course, which will be active November 2 to 20, provides a broad overview of gummy and jelly ingredients and processes by which they are made, then develops advanced concepts and principles, including manufacture of various enhanced or fortified products.
“In addition to candy makers, our fall course on gummies and jellies is a great opportunity for gummy vitamin makers to receive advanced training in formulation and processing,” said food science professor Rich Hartel, who runs the course.
The course is intended to instruct technical, production, research, and managerial personnel in the field of gummies and jellies technology, or anyone looking to gain knowledge about successful manufacturing of various types of gummies and jellies.
Course structure
UW-Madison held its first class at its candy school in 1963. The candy school was started by and intended for the confection industry, as a training ground, a spokesperson told NutraIngredients-USA.
“The market for gummies has grown substantially over the last 10 years, with significant growth expected in the coming years,” said the spokesperson. “The growth is attributed to the popular texture of traditional gummies, but also as it has expanded from confection to a nutraceutical delivery system.”
Topics covered during the course include sweetener chemistry, hydrocolloids, processing, finishing, starchless molding, enhancements, flavors and colors, interactions and shelf life, and regulatory information.
“The class also covers formulations and process for making nutraceutical gummies,” said the spokesperson. “It’s not always so easy or straightforward to add an ingredient like Vitamin C or fish oil!”
From Nov. 2 – 20, participants will work through course materials at their own pace, including video of pre-recorded lectures, readings, and other materials, said UW-Madison in a release.
There will also be videos of the course’s lab sessions, which walk participants through the processing, formulation, and common troubleshooting for each type of candy. On Nov. 18 – 20, course instructors will host a series of live online Q&A sessions, providing the opportunity to engage with instructors and ask questions.
Registration is open through Nov. 2, and the course costs $595. For more information and to register, please click HERE.