The food industry is an ever growing one that has been providing a lot of new job opportunities lately. Combining chemistry, food safety, confectionery, sensory analysis and microbiology, food science opens up a variety of rewarding careers in the food industry. This also helps reduce the farmers burden and reduce produce wastage. The courses focus on making the food tastier, healthier, safer. It deals with everything from production in the farms till it reaches our plates. Here are the top 5 food processing course one can pursue after twelfth grade.
1. B.Sc Food Technology
B.Sc in Food Technology is a three year bachelor's course one can pursue after 12th grade or a graduate diploma in food technology. The course overlaps with some aspects of food science such as production, processing, preserving and marketing. The course is suitable for those who are interested in food sciences and possess good data analysis skills. The students should have a practical and scientific approach towards problems.
The major subjects are Food Processing, Food Chemistry, Food Microbiology, Food Analysis, Food Laws and Quality Assurance, Food Preservation Technology, Food Additives, Packaging, and Business and Marketing. They learn to process everything from milk to spices, and to take them from farm to markets. A graduate is employed in both government and private sectors as Food Technologists, Organic Chemists, Food Production Manager, Quality Controllers, and Research scientists.
2. B.Tech in Food Technology
Bachelor of Technology in Food Technology is a 4 year graduate course. It is not one of the most popular courses in the engineering and technology field, but it is very promising. This is the perfect course for the students who want to do something in the food field while their parents want them to pursue engineering. Anyone who enjoys research and laboratory work on a day to day basis shall choose this course.
The course deals with the basics of Engineering along with subjects specific to food technology such as Environmental science, Food Biochemistry, Food Microbiology, Food Process Engineering, Crop Processing Technology, Dairy Plant Engineering, Preservation Techniques, Waste Management, and Food Plant Safety and Hazard Analysis. The graduates can find jobs as Food Scientist, Process Engineer, Food Technologist, Product Development Specialist. They can also work in research and sales sectors.
3. Diploma in Food Technology
Diploma in Food Science and Technology is a course one can pursue after tenth or twelfth grade. The course duration ranges from 2 to 3 years based on the institution of choice. The course consists of Food Technology, Food Microbiology, Sensory Evaluation Techniques, Food Analysis, Packaging, Storage, Food Chemistry, Cereal and Dairy Technology, Quality Control and Inspection, Food Formulation and Accountancy.
One can pursue a B.Sc or B.Tech in Food Technology after this course. They are also hired as a Hygiene executive, Technical Marketing Personnel, Analyst and Product Development executive.
4. Diploma in Food Processing
Diploma in Food Processing is a two year course one can pursue after finishing schooling. It deals with food science and technologies that are being used to transform raw ingredients into food. Food technology consists of methods such as preservation, packaging and distribution to provide clean and nutritious food for consumption.
The course study comprises of Food Science, Introduction and Methods of Food Processing, Unit Operations of Food Industry, Food Chemistry, Preservation Techniques, Quality Assurance and Control, Food Microbiology, and Packaging and Labeling. The course also has a case study and laboratory work. Graduates can find work in food processing companies, catering companies, restaurants and food research companies.
5. Certificate in Food Processing and Preservation
Certificate course in Food Processing and Preservation is three months to one year long based on the institution and chosen mode of education. The course focuses on processes that are followed to prepare and preserve a product. Its main focus is about the use of additives to preserve the processed food. The topics studied are packaging, shelving, thermal processing, chilling storage, freezing and irradiation.
This is usually used as a specialization by those who want to further continue their studies in the food science industry. But one can be placed in beginner level jobs under food analyst and as marketing assistants.