A machine (10) for the production and dispensing of food products such as ice cream and the like comprises a tub (11) cooled by a refrigerating circuit (12) and a motor-driven helical mixer (14) which rotates inside the tub. The tub is provided at the front with a tap (15) for dispensing the product through a dispensing outlet (16) and comprises a control system (21), a sensor (23) for rotation of the mixer and an interface panel (22) which are connected to the control system (21) so that, when rotation of the mixer (13) is detected by means of the sensor (23), the control system (21) shows on the interface panel (22) an animated image (28) representing said rotation.