Published on 2025-10-02
##Hydrocolloid - Quiz - Answers
Several of you responded to the below quiz. Answers ranged from 'I'm new and don't know any of the answers", to one of you nearly getting 100%. Below the answers (in our opinion).
You can grade yourself based on the above answers. If you feel some of our own answers are incorrect, we look forward to your input.
If you're coming to the 25th IMR Hydrocolloid Conference in Valencia, April 26-28, 2026 you'll face similar quiz questions at the end of the conference, but WITH prize money of euro 250-300 to be won. Click HERE for conference registration.
Consumer Perceptions-An Idea for Trade Associations Hydrocolloid trade associations such as Marinalg, Einec, AIPG and OFCA, have traditionally focused on B2B and regulatory efforts. They have made little, if any, efforts to directly address and assuage consumer concerns. Their activities have been limited to bland website with generalities and technical content. Websites which consumers seldom visit, if ever.
Recently, I attended a thriving and bustling local market in Brooklyn. Food vendors were making the usual, consumer 'feel good' claims such as organic, gluten free, natural (?) and yes, "No gums" (in a range of gluten free breads and baked goods)." The seller had no idea of which "No gums" were being referred to. You can guess I'm sure.
While wandering through the market I wondered (pun intended) if a small hydrocolloid stand would prove of interest to consumers and informative. I visualized, a jar of beautiful acacia senegal lumps (they look nicer than kibbles) and some free acacia candies/'boules de gommes' to hand out. An alginate solution with an eye dropper and a calcium chloride bath to make, on the spot, some imitation caviar or boba balls. A sample of salad dressing with xanthan and a control without xanthan to be poured on a dish and compared. A carob pod, seeds and gum along with some carob powder/cocoa blend for tasting while explaining the historic and environmental importance of the carob tree, source of St. John's bread flour. Samples of Irish Moss (carrageenan) and dulce with a reference to how long it has been consumed in Ireland, etc. etc. I know that you, our Hydrocolleague, community could come up with dozens, if not hundreds, of consumer friendly hydrocolloid messaging examples and demonstrations which could be relayed to the respective trade association.
So what would one little stand in a local weekly market achieve in reversing consumer mis-perceptions? Very little. But what if the idea is scaled up to dozens, hundreds or even thousands of such little markets? What if part of a food science academic program included some field work e.g. running a hydrocolloid information stand for a few hours in a local market. What if such a program became part of a "Communications" college degree. Institutions such as the institute of Food Technologists (IFT) would, I am sure be willing to lend a hand in such a communication effort. Mis-perceptions have trickled down to small neighborhood markets, maybe they can be reversed at that level and trickle back up.
Who should organize and fund such an effort? Who better than hydrocolloid trade associations and their respective members? Unfortunately it will take a paradigm shift in the mindset and accessibility of trade associations. It is hard to even reach some by phone. Try calling Marinalg at 1-202-591-2438, the contact number at www.marinalg.org.
Erosion of Trust in Institutions The internet and social media has played a role in promoting falsehoods and scaremongering. Unfortunately, recent policy announcements by the current US administration has done nothing more than further erode trust in institutions like the FDA and USDA to name but a few. Individual states are creating even more confusion with their own legislation on food and food additives. These new edicts on what's good and not good are often based on simplistic, unscientific premises such as dividing the entire food supply into only four categories, the worst of which, is "Ultra Processed Foods" (UPF's).
This erosion of trust in institutions lends even more importance to a grass roots effort at a local level to build back trust in hydrocolloids. See above. How many social media influencers have been engaged to defend hydrocolloids?
