Machine (10) for producing and dispensing food products such as ice cream and the like, comprising a Cuba (11) containing a cylindrical evaporator (12) of a cooling circuit (13) and a helical mixer motor driven (14) rotates coaxially with the evaporator, the Cuba also provided in the front of a tap (15) for dispensing the product through a dispensing outlet (16) disposed above a front area of the machine that is being intended to be an area (17) for receiving a container (18) for holding a metered amount of product, and a sensor (23) which detects the presence of an object which is situated in the vicinity of the reception area and activates the machine, characterized by that, behind this reception area (17), the machine has, as a single module (20), a control panel provided with means (21) for display of the machine, a pushbutton (22) for HAC er operate the machine and the sensor (23), which activates the machine ready for dispensing through the tap when the presence of an object is detected, and that, when the presence of an object is detected, the sensor sends a signal which causes an increase of the rotation speed of the helical mixer (14).Máquina (10) para la producción y dispensación de productos alimentarios como helados y similares, que comprende una cuba (11) que contiene un evaporador cilíndrico (12) de un circuito refrigerador (13) y una mezcladora helicoidal accionada por motor (14) que gira coaxialmente con el evaporador, estando la cuba provista también en la parte frontal de un grifo (15) para dispensar el producto mediante una salida de dispensación (16) dispuesta por encima de una zona frontal de la máquina que está destinada a ser una zona (17) para recibir un recipiente (18) para sostener una cantidad medida de producto, y un sensor (23), que detecta la presencia de un objeto que se sitúa en la proximidad de la zona de recepción y activa la máquina, caracterizada por que, detrás de esta zona de recepción (17), la máquina presenta, en forma de un
