Scope of Food Technology

Food technology is a branch of science in which the food science is applied in manufacturing and preservations of
food products. The food technologists study the chemical, physical and microbiological makeup of the food. The food
is processed, preserved, packaged and stored according to the specifications by industry and government. The
research and development in food technology has resulted into the production of safe and nutritious foods. The food
processing industries manufacture a large variety of food products. They include the primary foods like rice and wheat
products, oil, sugar and pulses. They are processed to convert into edible form. Food technology courses can be a
good career option. There is increasing scope of food technology courses in India.
Scope of food technology courses in India:
Today, several career options are available in India. One can opt for various food technology courses for a bright
career. Food processing industry is rapidly growing in India and several employment opportunities are available in
various industries. There is good scope of food technology courses which offer numerous job opportunities in various
areas. One can get jobs in food processing industries, research laboratories, hotels, soft drink factories, quality
control, rice mills, manufacturing industries and distilleries.
In India Food Processing industry is gaining momentum as the consumer food industry, which includes pasta, breads,
cakes, pastries, corn flakes, ready to eat and ready to cook products, cocoa products, biscuits, soft drinks, beer,
alcohol beverages, mineral and packaged water and segment of consumer foods is seeing an upward trend.
The Cabinet of India on June 21, 2007, granted its approval to an integrated plan, which aims to promote India's food
processing sector and boost the country's agricultural business (according to a press release). As per the report there
are about 300 Million upper and-middle-class consumers of processed and packaged food in the country, and another
200 Million are likely to be added by 2010. Ministry of Food Processing Industries is planning to establish 500 food
parks in the Tenth Five Year Plan across every parliamentary constituency. This will give a further boost to the growth
and development of food processing industries and thereby is generating a huge job potential for those who have an
aptitude for the work and required qualifications. The food processing industry is still at its nascent stage in India. It
thus provides ample employment opportunities.
The areas where one can find employment in this industry are:

Food processing companies and food research laboratories

Food wholesalers

Hospitals

Catering establishments

Retailers

Restaurants provide employment to candidates with degrees in home science and specializations in food
technology, nutrition or food services management. Diploma holders in dietetics, applied nutrition, food science and
preservation and those having certificate in dietetics or food and nutrition can also be employed in this industry.

Bacteriologist, toxicologists and those trained in packaging technology, organic chemistry, biochemistry and
analytical chemistry can find opening food technology laboratories or in quality control departments.

A number of public sector undertakings in the department of food also require people in this field. The Food
Corporation of India, which handles the purchase, storage transport and distribution of food grains and other food
items, provide employment to large number of people. Modern Food Corporation which markets bread, fruit juices,
edible oils, soft drink concentrates and North-Eastern Agricultural Marketing Corporation which markets and process
fruits and vegetables also recruits people.

Self-employment opportunities also exist in the form of dynamic delivery networks for those who want to
work on their own.

Private sector companies have been the key players in the food sector and even companies like ITC are now
moving into the sector, seeing the potential in processed foods.
Some other back-end jobs in this industry are:

Bakers

Meat, poultry, trimmers, and fish cutters

Slaughterers and meat packers

Food batch makers

Food cooking machine operators and tenders

Food and tobacco roasting, baking and drying machine operators and tenders
The major players in private sector in this industry in India are:

ITC Limited

Parle Products Pvt. Ltd.

Agro Tech Foods

Amul

Perfetti India Ltd.

Cadbury India Ltd.

PepsiCo India Holdings

Nestle India Pvt. Ltd.

Britannia Industries Ltd.

Hindustan Lever Limited

Milkfood

MTR foods limited

Godrej industries Limited

Gits Food Products Pvt. Ltd.

Dabur India Ltd.

Nature of Work
Food technologists, technicians, bio technologists and engineers are required in this industry for the practical
application of the principles of many disciplines of science in the manufacturing or production, preservation and
packaging, processing and canning of various food products. All this needs preparation of raw materials for
processing which involves selection, or cleaning of the raw material, followed by the actual processing, which could
be chopping, blanching, crushing, mixing or even cooking of the food item, the addition of preservatives and the final
packaging along with keep in hygiene and maintaining quality of products.
Following people are needed for the work in food processing industry:

Food technologists: They are given the responsibility of determining whether a particular process is being
performed in a certain specified way or not. They are instrumental in devising new ways and improving the older ones
for preserving, conserving and processing food. They have to check for the contamination, adulteration and
controlling the nutritional value of the food products which are to be processed. Food technologist are also assigned
to determine to quality of the raw materials used in the plants aw well as the food which has to be dispatched to the
market. They also look after the storage conditions and hygiene.