Food technology is a branch of science in which food science is applied
in the manufacturing and preservation of food products. It is the application
of science and technology to the treatment, processing, preservation and
distribution of food. The term 'Food Technology' has a wide meaning, it
deals with developing new methods and systems for keeping food products
safe, resistant to the threat of natural problems like bacteria. Food
Technology in simpler terms is the application of food science in manufacturing
safe, wholesome and nutritious food products. Due to the fact that
food is the basic need of every human being, food technology is directly
associated with the benefit of man kind. This field is so old, that research
has been going on for decades, on record from the time that Louis Pasteur
developed the process of Pasteurization- the process of heating milk and
milk products to prevent food spoilage and destroy disease producing organisms.
India being one of the largest producer of consumable foods stuffs, need
for processing is on the increase, consequently new technology in food
processing and preservation is the need of the hour. The health and welfare
of people everywhere depend not only on good agricultural yields but also
on the reliable storage, successful processing and safe handling of all
types of food. Food processing industry is one of the most technology-oriented
industries which covers a range of food products. These include basic
or primary foods, such as wheat and rice products, sugar, oil and pulses
etc and the processes for converting them into edible form. The research
and development in food technology has resulted in the production of safe
and nutritious food. Food processing industry is comparatively a vast
field which comprises of various processes such as quality management,
primary and secondary processing, preservation, packaging and labeling
of various products such as confectionery products, dairy products, fish
products, meat & poultry products, fruit & vegetable products;
food grains etc.
Now a days there is an ever increasing demand for packaged, processed
and ready to eat foods. This requires continuous research and innovation
of methods to preserve food stuff for long periods without loosing its
nutritious content. Food technologists are involved in a wide variety
of activities associated with providing nutritious food. They study the
chemical, physical and microbiological makeup of the food. The food is
processed, preserved, packaged and stored according to the specifications
by industries and the government. Training in Food technology gives adequate
knowledge regarding the quality analyzes of raw materials, packaging standards
and methodology, health and hygiene parameters, processing techniques,
storage and food value, methodologies for extracting useful byproducts
from industrial and domestic waste. Thus the future of the food industries,
on a global scale, is in the hands of Food technologists.
