Kuala Terengganu: Food Technology students at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) have developed 13 innovative new food products using sweet corn, showcasing the potential for diverse downstream products from the crop.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the university's Dean of the Faculty of Bioresources and Food Industry, Prof Dr Hafizan Juahir, stated that the creations by 13 student groups were based on crops cultivated at UniSZA's Besut Campus farm under the New Food Product Launch Day 2025 programme.

Prof Dr Hafizan explained that the annual programme involves final-year Bachelor of Food Technology students who create halal food products based on crops grown on UniSZA's farm. He noted that the previous year, students had developed products using sweet potatoes. The programme also imparts entrepreneurial skills, with UniSZA providing guidance through the Community Production Kitchen programme to help bring the students' creations to market.

The range of products developed by the students includes sweet corn-flavoured Hailam noodles, corn-flavoured cheese, kaya spreads, carbonated drinks, creamed corn, instant noodles, corn tempeh flakes, and corn-flavoured confectionery with caramel corn filling. Additional creations consist of vegan corn meat, corn silk oat tea drinks, crispy corn nougats, and corn snacks.

Among the participating groups, the Jalan-Jalan Noodle group emerged as the first-place winner with their sweet corn-flavoured Hailam noodles. Team leader Chong Hong Hui, 24, highlighted that their product is unique as there is currently no instant Hailam noodle product available in the market, especially one that is halal-certified. The product even offers the convenience of being consumable with just cold water. Chong expressed excitement over their win after the product was evaluated by multiple external agencies.