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Food
technology develop and improve food products , and set standards for
producing, packing and marketing edibles. They usually specialise in
fields such as fruit products, wheat based items, meat and diary stuff
or sea food. They may work in particular areas including supervising
production, quality control, and research and development. They may
also called on to perform administrative and management duties. The
major areas include production, supply chain, quality control and food
safety. It is expected that may be about 10,000 professionals are
required in India annually, where hardly 1000 people - graduate and
post graduates coming out every year. There's a requirement of ten times more than that.
Being in the B.Sc. programme, you are eligible for an M.Sc./Food
processing management. There are many bachelor programme in Home
Science, Food Technology and Food Science and in specialised areas
like fisheries, or dairy sciences. |
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Functions
of food technologists:
In any food processing unit, food technologists are responsible for every aspect of the production process that
leads to the manufacture of a finished item. The elaborate job profile involves detailed examination of foodstuff, conducting checks for contamination and adulteration and controlling the nutritional
value.
Work area:
The primary job of a food technologist is that of quality assurance, which involves regular examination of raw
material, maintaining hygiene conditions at all levels of production and improving the quality of the foodstuff through proper handling, preservation and packaging.
Food technologist cope up with the consumerism-driven market, food technologists also perform the role of product developers in which they assess consumer trends and in accordance, frame and implement product development plans.
Scope:
Professionally qualified food technologists are readily absorbed by food processing companies, packaging units, wholesalers, retailers and even hotels, restaurants, hospitals and other catering
establishments and Research and development laboratories. The public sector also employs food technologists in the strength of food inspectors and health inspectors.
One can also work as programme consultants with organisations like the UNICEF and
WHO. Food Corporation of India also requires food technologists to handle the purchase, storage, transport and distribution of food grains and other food materials. With experience, food
technologists can also work as freelance consultants, health educators and food writers.
The duration of courses are normally three years, and all courses
require a science background. There also training institutes
offering postgraduate degree/diploma in specialised aspects of food
processing. Some universities offering these courses are:
Allahabad Agriculture Institute
M.Sc. (Food Siences and Nutrition)
Kerala Agriculture University
M.Sc. (Food Sciences and Nutrition)
College of Agriculture Technology (Parbhani)
M.Tech. (Food Science)
Govind Ballabh Pant University Of Agriculture and Technology
M.Tech.( Postharvest Process and Food Engineering)
Marathavada Krishi Vidhyapeeth
M.Tech (Food Science)
Central Food Technological Institute, Mysore
Diploma, M.Sc.
University College of Technology
(Osmania University)
BTech in Food Technology
JNTU Oil Technological Research Institute (OTRI), Anantapur
MSc in Food Technology;
Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University
BTech in Food Science, MSc in Food Science and Technology
Major players in food procesing
Pepsi Food Limited, Parle (Exports) Pvt.Ltd., Uniliver, Coca-Cola, ITC , Nestle
Dabur,
Kellogg, Cadbury's, Britania, Mother Dairy, Amul,
Hotels, Food chains
Remuneration
Entry-level pay and perks tend to be around Rs 10,000 - 15,000 per-month. However, with experience, as one specialises in a
particular area of food technology, pay packages keep soaring. With mushrooming companies, food technology surely promises a bright future. |
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