Food processing encompasses the methods and techniques used to transform raw ingredients into food products for human or animal consumption. This includes various activities like sorting, grading, packaging, and branding aimed at improving the quality, shelf life, and accessibility of food items.
Purpose of food processing
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- Conversion of raw agricultural produce into more useful and edible products. Eg – converting wheat flour into bread.
- Adding value to agro product to make food more nutritious, tasty and appealing.
- Preserving the usable lifespan of edible products. For example, filling food packets with inert gases reduces the rate of oxidation, thereby increasing the shelf life.
- Increasing the reach and availability of products by packaging and branding items for wider market access.
These can be clubbed into two domains:
Manufacturing Process: Transformation of raw materials into more usable form of food.
Value- Addition Process: Mainly aimed at increasing nutritional value or shelf life
Various activities under food processing
1. Sorting and Grading
Sorting: Separation of raw food materials based on size, shape, colour, and quality.
Grading: Classification of food items into different quality grades to ensure uniformity and standardization.
2. Cleaning and Washing
Removal of dirt, contaminants, and other impurities from raw food materials to ensure hygiene and safety during processing.
3. Food Irradiation
Exposure of food to ionizing radiation to improve safety and extend shelf life by reducing or eliminating microorganisms and insects. Using Cobalt-60 radiation, the micro-organisms and insects can be eliminated.
4. Packaging
Enclosing food products in containers to protect them from physical, chemical, and biological hazards, and to extend their shelf life. It also involves labeling for information and branding
5. Freezing and Refrigeration
Use of low temperatures to preserve perishable food items, slowing down microbial growth and enzymatic activity.
Various industries under food processing (Government of India)
The following industries come under the ambit of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), Government of India:
1. Milk Products, Poultry, Meat, and Meat Products: Processing and refrigeration of milk, poultry, meat, and related products
2. Fish Processing: Establishment and servicing of development councils for fish processing. Technical assistance and advice to the fish processing industry.
3. Fruit and Vegetable Processing: Processing of various fruits and vegetables into consumable products.
4. Food Grains Milling: Milling of food grains like wheat, rice, and other cereals
5. Bread and Confectionery: Industries related to bread, oilseeds, edible meals, breakfast foods, biscuits, confectionery (including cocoa processing and chocolate making), malt extract, protein isolate, high-protein food, weaning food, and extruded food products
6. Beverages: Non-alcoholic beverages including beer and other drinks. Alcoholic drinks made from non-molasses base.
7. Aerated Water and Soft Drinks: Production and processing of aerated water and various soft drinks.
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