In November 2008, Christchurch bakery Cookie Time launched a gluten-free chocolate-chip cookie. The story of the development of the cookie is a good illustration of the process food technologists use when identifying, developing and bringing a new product to market.

Characteristics of Technology

• Sociocultural influences: establishing the market size; economic considerations
• Interdisciplinary practice

Technological products

• Understanding the role of material evaluation in determining suitability for use in product development

Discussion starters:

• What big questions had to be answered before the company would commit itself to the development of a gluten-free cookie? How did they go about finding the answers?
• Identify the range of disciplines involved in the development manufacture and marketing of this new Cookie Time product. Explain the significance of the involvement of each discipline on the success of the overall product development process.
• Describe the material evaluation processes involved to determine the suitability of materials for use in the gluten-free product.

Company website

Gluten Free: Healthy choice or expensive fad?
www.3news.co.nz article

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