Food engineering involves the use of various disciplines to transform raw materials into food products, including genetic engineering. The production of safe and nutritious food is a main goal, with packaging and waste management also important. Controversy surrounds genetically engineered foods, but labeling could alleviate concerns. Researchers also work on pharmaceutical and healthcare products. Jobs in food engineering are expected to increase in the coming years.
Food engineering is a comprehensive field of food technology involving the various disciplines of food science, agriculture, microbiology, chemistry and engineering. Using accurate research methods, high-tech equipment and sophisticated processes, food process engineering covers the entire gamut from the sourcing of food raw materials to their transformation into food products, storage, packaging and delivery of products food to the consumer market. Food engineering, particularly in the form of genetic food engineering, is a huge undertaking needed to feed the world’s growing populations, and that means there will be a sharp increase in these jobs over the next few years.
In genetic food engineering, genetically grown products are used to manufacture food products with certain required characteristics. A good example would be the use of genetically modified and vitamin-enriched tomatoes for tomato-based foods. Such engineering could be the answer to providing the world’s populations with adequate levels of nutrition, but there is a fair bit of controversy surrounding the long-term health implications of genetically engineered foods. The problem can be alleviated to some extent if GM foods are clearly labeled as such and consumers are allowed to know exactly what they are buying. At present, such labeling is not common practice.
The production of safe and nutritious food for human and animal consumption is one of the main goals of food engineering. High quality raw materials are handled and processed by special computer equipment in food processing plants. Processing includes the extraction, separation and mixing of food ingredients to produce different food products.
The entire food processing process takes place in sanitary conditions to minimize the risks of contamination and other food hazards. Processed foods may undergo a thermal heat treatment or freezing process in order to preserve them for a longer shelf life once they reach the market. Before being sent to the market, the food must be properly packaged. A variety of packaging is usually used, depending on whether the food products are solid or liquid. The right packaging is very important, as it keeps food products safe and secure.
A good amount of waste is generated as a result of the various processes in food engineering. Managing this waste efficiently and environmentally friendly is also an important aspect of food engineering. Other concerns related to this field are the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries. As is the case with creating nutritious food products, researchers keep busy here by perfecting pharmaceutical and healthcare products that will ultimately benefit consumers.
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