Student Highlights
Proof is in the pudding for food science graduate
From a young age, Caitlin Thomson knew she wanted to pursue a career in the food industry after being inspired by her mother’s interest in cooking and studying food technology throughout school.
Graduating this week from a Bachelor of Food Science and Human Nutrition at the University of Newcastle’s Central Coast campus, Caitlin has put her passion into practice and is currently finalising the development of new Christmas pudding products with a local small business.
“Food is life and I’ve always wanted to be involved with food somehow. I thought that by studying a Bachelor of Food Science and Human Nutrition I would gain a better insight of what area in the industry was suited for me,” Caitlin said.
After completing her third-year placement with The Pudding Lady in Newcastle, Caitlin is now their Food Product Development Officer and is responsible for everything from developing new ideas and recipe formulations, to analysing trial runs in the factory and presenting the company’s latest innovations to potential customers.
“We’re still in the process of developing the Pudding Bite and are running trials to perfect the product and improve its shelf life. At the moment we’re also very close to finalising the development of our new vegan Christmas pudding,” Caitlin said.
“It has been very exciting watching the development lifecycle and, so far, all presentations of the product have been successful.”
Along with lab work on campus, Caitlin said the integrated learning component of her degree was a fundamental part of putting everything she had learnt into practice.
“All of the practical hands on courses undertaken in the Sara Lee kitchen and the science labs were very critical to my understanding of food science,” Caitlin said.
She is now working towards having her product on tables by the end of the year in time for the festive season.
“I hope that by the end of this year my work, particularly the vegan Christmas pudding, will be available as a completely finished product on the shelf for Christmas,” Caitlin said.
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Caitlin Thomson
Graduating from a Bachelor of Food Science and Human Nutrition at the University of Newcastle’s Central Coast campus, Caitlin has put her passion into practice and is currently finalising the development of new Christmas pudding products with a local small business.
Food is life and I’ve always wanted to be involved with food somehow. I thought that by studying a Bachelor of Food Science and Human Nutrition I would gain a better insight of what area in the industry was suited for me.
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