Today, we delve deep into the science and innovation with Michelle Schwenk, the president and food science consultant at Bellis Food Solutions in Decatur, Illinois. Bellis is a company renowned for its insights into formula development, technical guidance, and testing for the food industry, working with everything from candy to dairy. 

We reveal the joy of coupling water science with food processing. From the process of creating unique food products to understanding the importance of water activity and isotherms in maintaining food quality and predicting shelf life - we've got it all.

Michelle's got some fascinating stories about troubleshooting tricky food formulas and how her expertise in water activity came into play. We'll hear about the intriguing transformation story of sticky gummies and the low sugar product category, which Michelle describes as a challenge in the food industry. 

So food nerds and innovators alike, let's get ready to dive into an enriching conversation filled with the complexities of food science, obstacles, and advances in our industry. This is an episode every food-preneur be they seasoned or budding shouldn't miss.