The 4-H Health and Food Science Camp welcomed 17 students to Michigan State University’s campus this August for a one-day intensive youth development program for teens. This camp aimed to help students develop interests and explore careers in the health and science industries while engaging in hands-on learning activities.
As part of the interactive undertakings of the day, TIC Gums provided a lab experiment that demonstrated how alginate reacts with calcium chloride in solution to form different textures. When the green-colored alginate solution is dispensed through a dropper into the calcium chloride solution, a bouncy, rubbery strand or droplet is created. This simple demonstration is also part of TIC Gums’ “Gums 101” course, an introduction to food hydrocolloids workshop required of all new employees.