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Practically every day we read about, or see an advertisement for a new kind of food item - variations of snacks and crispies, fancy soups and sauces, and any number of ready-to-cook dishes, from pastas and noodles to mattar paneer and chicken korma. This is the era of the convenience food , as with convenience everything. The fast paced life in a changing socio-environment, with less time for food preparation and larger disposable incomes, has created a growing demand for packaged and processed foods.. There is also an increasing number of women going out to work, yet not wishing to short-change their households on wholesome meals. Along with that is a greater awareness of the need for quality and safety in food and for nutrition All these factors pose an enormous challenge to the food processing industry to come up with appropriate food products to suit these varying needs. The concept of processed foods has caught the imagination of consumers in recent years, because of their enhanced convenience, variety, nutrition and taste. The challenge therefore lies in continuously developing new variations of food items, as well as new processes that will maximise its appeal and shelf-life, and minimise the use of chemicals and preservatives. The food processing industry covers a range of food products. These include the basic or primary foods, such as wheat and rice products, sugar , oil and pulses, and the processes for converting them into edible form; and the processed foods, such as biscuits and bakery products, confectionery, dairy products, breakfast foods, meat and fish products, fruit and vegetable products and all such items which are processed and packaged to enhance and prolong their edible life. The growth in the industry until a few years ago was mainly in the traditional sectors like rice, flour and oil milling. However, the swelling consumerism has seen the introduction of a range of new products like ready-to-eat snack foods, breakfast cereals, texturised vegetable protein foods and so on. Along with the new and improved food products, the modernisation of food processing plants, greater automation, advertising, research and development has provided a major impetus to this industry, which already attracts an investment of over Rs10,000 crores So as you reach for that packet of chips and the bottle of soft drink, just think - this could provide you a satisfying job for the future. The work involved in the food industry spans the gamut of its sectors, from grain milling and fruit and vegetable processing, fisheries and dairy products to soft drink concentrates, instant mixes, and oil extracts. It concerns the practical application of the principles of several disciplines of science for the manufacture or production, the preservation, processing and handling, and the canning and packaging of food materials. Thus food technologists, chemists, bio-technologists, technicians and engineers are generally involved in this industry. The method of processing varies for each commodity. However, broadly it involves preparation of the raw material for processing, which could be selection, or cleaning of the raw material, followed by the actual processing, which could be chopping, mixing or even cooking of the food item, the addition of preservatives and the final packaging. All stages require hygiene and attention to quality. The key person in any food processing industry is the food technologist, who supervises the production of processed foods. This involves the examination of foodstuff, checking for contamination and adulteration, and controlling the nutritional value. Food technologists also devise new and improved techniques for the processing, conservation and preservation of food items., and can specialise in a particular food area, such as fruit and vegetable processing, or dairy products, sugar, alcohol and so on. With increasing consumer demands, food technologists also develop newer varieties of food items , new flavours and nutritional supplements. Another important task is that of quality control, normally handled by a chemist or food technologists, which involves the regular examination of the raw material, ensuring that proper hygiene conditions are maintained in the processing plant, and devising methods to improve the quality of the foodstuff through proper handling, preservation and packaging. Organic chemists, bio-chemists and analytical chemists are also employed by the industry to provide expert advice, study and analyse raw materials and food products and suggest improvements in flavour, texture, storage and quality. Engineers, such as chemical, mechanical, industrial, electrical, agricultural and civil, are also required for planning, designing, improving and maintaining the processing systems for accomplishing a variety of activities and services. Although the food processing industry is still developing, and there are limited training facilities for a career in this field, it nevertheless requires some formal training. Those candidates looking for management jobs in the food industry, would need to undertake degree and research qualifications.
Eligibility:
There are also a variety of courses, short-term certificate, craft and diploma courses at various polytechnics, food -craft institutes and universities. The Ministry of Food and Civil Supplies has 33 Food and Nutrition Extension Centres in different parts of the country providing short-term courses and training in home scale preservation of fruits and vegetables, preparation of bakery and confectionery items, rice milling, oil seed processing etc. There are also Fruit Preservation Centres in some states for training in the preservation of fruits and vegetables. Some universities in India offer degree courses in home science, food technology and food science., and in specialised areas like fisheries. There are also training institutes offering post-degree courses in specialised aspects of food processing.
A food technologist has to be particular about cleanliness and hygiene, and should be prudent, conscientious and meticulous.
The food processing industry is a nascent field, and those with training can find jobs in various areas. Some of them are listed below:
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