Food science grad invents color-changing marshmallows
Celebrating National Toasted Marshmallow Day with alumna Jessie Yang
Jessica “Jessie” Yang has taken what she learned as a food science student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and turned it into something spectacular: a marshmallow that changes color when you toast it.
National Toasted Marshmallow Day, on Aug. 30, is the perfect time to try out Jessie’s invention, as her marshmallows only change when toasted (roasted) — or baked like in Rice Krispies treats. Dropping one into your mug of hot chocolate won’t have the same effect.
“I’m very proud of my first product launch ever! A mix of cool science, color theory, hard work, and cross-functional collaboration made these marshmallows possible,” Yang said. “I can’t believe I was given such an amazing opportunity, and I am very thankful for my ACES education and everyone involved.”
Yang, a graduate of the food science and human nutrition program in the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, is now a commercialization manager at Rich Products Corporation and formerly an associate scientist for desserts at The Kraft Heinz Company, where she received a Kraft Heinz Inventor Incentive Program Award for her work developing the “Jet-Puffed Color Changers Marshmallows.”
Yang began building the experience required for her creation at Illinois, where she was among the earliest interns in the Food and Agricultural Science in Technology Education and Research, or FASTER, program.
The paid internship gives Illinois undergraduates hands-on experience working alongside researchers and industry partners at the Integrated Bioprocessing Research Laboratory and the Food Science Pilot Plant. FASTER interns work with pilot-scale food and bioprocessing equipment and contribute to real industry and faculty projects.
For Yang, that meant opportunities to organize pilot plant projects, experiment with sustainable ingredients, and build the technical and professional skills she now uses every day.
“It’s been really fun to see where Jessie has taken the experiences she had here at Illinois,” said Nicki Engeseth, professor and FSHN department head. “FASTER gives students a chance to try things, work on real projects and learn alongside people in the field. Jessie took full advantage of those opportunities, and it’s exciting to see her now putting that experience to work developing new products.”
These marshmallows are available at retailers, including Walmart.