Food scientist launches website for the candy curious

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - A local candy scientist is using her skills and knowledge in food science to help and prepare the next generation.

Michelle Schwenk, Ph.D., is the President of Bellis Food Solutions. While her company helps clients with new formulas for new candies, she's branching out to help others interested in food science.

"If you are candy curious it's fun to check out," she said.

Schwenk told WAND News candy making is a craft that has been passed down from one generation to the next. She's created a site for Candy Mentors to connect with future confectioners and those already in the business.

"We've been in business for a while, and we noticed a few things. One is that there was a lot of same routine questions that people were asking, and the second one is that not everyone could afford the full-time help."

Candy Mentor is a platform that breaks down barriers to learning, making confectionary science accessible to people of all skill levels and backgrounds.

"The candy industry is really known for who your mentors are and the chain of knowledge," Schwenks said. "We're taking a lot of that information from the different resources that we had and our own knowledge and consolidating it into one place on the website.

To learn more, click here.