Metro

Tuesday November 10, 2009

Special noodles from USM


A research team from Universiti Sains Malaysia’s School of Industrial Technology has come out with new “less fattening” noodles, which is expected to hit the Malaysian market by next year.

Professor Azhar Mat Easa said the dried yellow noodles with gastro-resistant properties called Neodles, coined by combining the words new and noodles, was in the pre-commercialisation stage.

“A local company is collaborating with the university, and we have had discussions with hypermarkets here.

“We are finalising the licensing and commercialisation agreement, and hope to launch the product in the market by February,” he told a press conference in USM on Oct 27.

(Left to right): USM’s School of Industrial Technology Dean Prof Rozman Din, Prof Azhar, and fellow researchers Dr Abbad F.M. Alkarkhi, Saifullah Ramli and Yeoh Shin Yong holding up packets and food samples of the Neodles at the press conference.

He said the team had proposed to the company for Neodles to be sold in three ranges with slightly different formulation for adults, children and dieters.

Azhar said the development of Neodles was supported by the InnoFund under the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry (Mosti). The product was invented last year and it took the team a year to test and perfect it for the market.

He said the 100% vegetable-based Neodles was targeted at the “diabesity” market (the diabetics and the obese) as well as weight-watchers.

“Sensory tests indicate that the Neodles are very acceptable. The taste is slightly different from conventional noodles but the main benefit is it makes you feel full longer, therefore they are good for those on a diet,” he said.

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