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.
WORK
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 rocessing,
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.
ENTRY
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 :
For a B.Sc. in Home Science / Food Technology / Food Science, a candidate
has to have passed the 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Maths.
For M.Sc. / Management, the minimum eligibility criteria is a B.Sc.
Institutes :
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.
- The Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, in H P. for fruit technology.
- The Fruit Technology Institute in Lucknow.
- The Central Food Technology Research Institute , Mysore.
- The Central Institute of Fisheries Education, with its four training centres in
5. The National Sugar Institute, Kanpur.
6. The National Dairy Research Institute in Karnal, Haryana.
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.
JOB PROSPECTS
The food processing industry is a nascent field, and those with training can find
jobs in various areas. Some of them are listed below :
Food processing companies, (for human consumption or animal feed)
food research laboratories, food wholesalers, retailers and even in hotels,
restaurants, hospitals and other catering establishments.
Industries working on the development of goods and services which convert a
raw farm crop into ready-to-use food, according to the demands of the customers.
Public sector undertakings in the Department of food recruit people in this field.
In towns and cities there are ample opportunities for self-employment in the form
of dynamic delivery networks and home catering services operated by food
entrepreneurs. The packaging and distribution of home-made condiments,
pickles, and sauces are other avenues of self-employment.
Research and development laboratories offer many openings for scientists
In the food sciences disciplines to conduct experiments to help improve the
yields, appearance, flavour, nutritive value and general acceptability of the
packaged foods, and develop alternatives from different food sources.
Careers
