Oreo maker Mondelez uses AI to create new snack flavors
The section manager for biscuit digital R&D of Mondelez International told the Wall Street Journal that the snack giant uses artificial intelligence (AI) to create new flavors.
“The point is we get there faster, Kevin Wallenstein said.
READ: AI helps find over 20,000 new materials
Article continues after this advertisement“The consumer wants the product to taste like X. We’re not stopping iterating until it tastes like X… We’re doing things more efficiently,” he added.
Why food companies are taking a bite of the AI trend
🥨 Mondelez Uses AI to Reinvent Snack Creation! 🍩
— World Internet Conference (@wicinternet) January 2, 2025
🍫 Through a newly developed AI-powered tool, Mondelez is speeding up snack recipe development and optimizing flavors, costs and sustainability. #AI #Innovation #Mondelez
New York University food studies professor Marion Nestle told WSJ that other food companies like Mondelez are trying AI.
They’re deploying AI to streamline supply chains, facilitate marketing, and produce new recipes faster.
Article continues after this advertisementCompanies are focusing on the latter due to tough competition. Nowadays, you can find countless snack options on store shelves from numerous snack and drink makers.
This massive variety is making it harder for specific brands to stand out and gain more customers.
Nestle says new product types and brand offshoots help achieve this goal; AI expedites this process.
For example, Mondelez’s AI analyzes its recipes and suggests new ones while meeting specific requirements.
The snack maker says this technology brings new products to pilot or production trials four or five times faster than before.
Fortunately, human taste testers and “brand stewards” are still crucial for this new process. They ensure the company doesn’t launch “unhinged suggestions” to the market.
For example, Wallenstein says the AI could suggest recipes with high amounts of baking soda due to its low cost.
“It would try to just make cookies that were very high in baking soda, which doesn’t taste good at all.”
Mondelez isn’t the only snack maker adding AI to its confections.
For example, Japanese beverage maker Sapporo uses AI to produce new flavors.
The company explains this innovation allows it to meet the rapidly growing demand for Japanese alcoholic drinks.
Read this Inquirer Tech report to learn more.
