Students aim to cook up gluten free treats

Pupils from Matthew Moss School in Rochdale have linked up with food company Richard Whittaker Ltd to help create some great tasting new products.

Richard Whittaker Ltd, based at Mayfield Street in Rochdale, is one of the most successful businesses in the borough and employs 100 people. It packages a wide range of foods stuffs, particularly dried items such as cereals, bakery mixes, starches and spices.

The company also provides a range of gluten free products, a number of which are available via the NHS prescription service.

Richard Whittaker Ltd has its own lab and kitchen on site and is continuing to develop new gluten free products and recipes.

Staff from the business are currently working with students from Matthew Moss School in Rochdale to create more great tasting, gluten free products.

The Year 9 Food Technology pupils have already visited the company to gain some inspiration and are now busily developing their own ideas back at school.

In order to keep in touch, they have set up a Skype enabling them to speak regularly to the lab staff and show baking results. This novel use of communication is a new venture for both parties.

There is a strong competitive element to the project as, when the students return in a few weeks, they will be taking part in a bake-off to decide who has come up with the best-tasting recipe.