Food Innovation: Cornell's 'Freedom of Expression' Inspires Students to Create Their Own Version of Ice Cream

Cornell University in New York students have been motivated to develop their unique ice creams due to a program inspired by the concept of 'Freedom of Expression." The Department of Food Science and Technology was responsible for developing this program annually, which allowed students to produce innovative food showcased at the Cornell Dairy Bar.

Four Unique Flavors Introduced by Cornell's Students

(Photo : Pexels/Lukas)

The Food Science and Technology course has provided instruction in food safety, packaging, sensory evaluation, and comprehension of kosher and halal food preparation for nearly thirty years. During the final week of each semester, the students in this course at Cornell University are divided into teams, each responsible for developing a recipe and producing ice cream masterpieces presented at the Cornell Dairy Bar.

As mentioned, creating an innovative connection between the ice creams and the concept of freedom of expression was the task that was presented for this year's flavors. Freedom of expression is a concept that encourages cooperation, compromise, thought, and learning through its innate nature.

On Monday, Dec. 11, four finalists were selected from among the designs submitted this year by a team of judges, including President Martha E. Pollack. During the spring semester of 2024, the school can vote on a Freedom of Expression taste that will be deemed the winner. In addition, these are the final four flavors:

Black, White, and Big Red All Over

It contains a base made of bananas, swirls of peanut butter, and pockets of raspberry jam, providing an appearance reminiscent of a newspaper. Accordingly, people are encouraged to express their beliefs, question authority, and contribute to public discourse through these platforms, which serve as a medium for freeing ideas.

Coming Out of Your Shell

Provides a vibrant peach-blush or raspberry-citrus ice cream topped with dark chocolate ribbons that are spun within and tucked beneath a chocolate shell that has completely set. As stated, you are encouraged by the creators to step out of your shell and express yourself.

Toni S'Morrison

Honors Toni Morrison, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1955. According to the description provided by the group, the flavor is reminiscent of the experience of eating s'mores around a campfire. S'mores are dishes that bring together a variety of flavors through the medium of artistic expression.

Brewing CommuniTea

The team stated that the design acknowledges the rich history of tea-drinking habits, celebrates contemporary society's diverse and expressive nature, and brings to mind the nuances of cultural expression. The basis of this confection is made of Earl Grey tea, and it features swirls of caramel and pieces of buttery shortbread that are sprinkled throughout.

Importance of Food Innovation

The application of science and technology allows for the creation of new approaches to the production, processing, or packaging of food to make it safer, healthier, more nutritious, or more delicious.

The innovation of food also has a significant part to play in addressing fundamental societal concerns, such as the question of how we can guarantee a food supply that is both sustainable and abundant to feed a growing population throughout the world.

On the other hand, by reformulating their products, producers can provide consumers with healthier options, which is becoming increasingly important as the number of consumers interested in keeping a balanced diet continues to rise. Furthermore, the production of sustainable commodities is influenced towards having a reduced environmental impact due to market demand.