Four Irish food firms today said they are creating a total of 50 new high-quality food science jobs.

Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise Mary Coughlan is expected to announce total funding of E23m for the food science industry.

Four big Irish food companies - Kerry Ingredients, Glanbia Nutritionals, Carbery and Dairygold - will work together to develop strategies to bring functional foods to the market.

These are foods and ingredients which will have a beneficial effect on health or disease in the areas of infant development, obesity, immunity and colorectal cancer.