Updated on Feb 16, 2023 05:09 IST
Vidhi Jain

Vidhi JainContent Writer

Food technology is a branch of science that studies the processes and concepts involved in the processing and preservation of food ingredients. Food science applications aid in the production of safe, healthy, and nutritious food items. The goal of food technology research is to create innovative ways and systems for keeping food safe and resistant to natural toxins such as bacteria and other microorganisms. Food processing aids preservation increases flavour, and decreases contaminants in food products, resulting in improved distribution efficiency and easier marketing of the food product.

Syllabus- Important Facts for Food Technology

  • Diploma Course in Food Technology- The duration of this course is one year. Some of the subjects addressed in this curriculum include microbiology, enzyme technology, food hygiene and sanitation, nutrition and health, food processing, food plant layout and design, laws, quality assurance, and unit operations in food processing. Following the tenth and twelfth grades, students who want to pursue a diploma in food technology can do so. After the 12th standard, the diploma level will be higher. Some courses cover topics such as food production, food technology, microbiology, and food testing technologies. To get hired in the field of food technology, candidates must hold a BSc, BTech, MSc, or MTech in food technology or food science. You must have finished your 12th grade with a C or better to participate in these classes.

  • BSc in Food Technology- A Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Food Technology is a three-year full-time undergraduate degree. This curriculum entails a thorough examination of the processes and activities involved in food preservation, processing, and manufacturing. Candidates must have completed Class 12 or equivalent from a recognised board with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Home Science as required subjects and an overall grade point average of at least 50% (45% for SC/ ST/ OBC candidates). The performance of the candidate in the entrance test determines admission to BSc Food Technology institutions.

  • MSc in Food Technology - A master's degree in food technology is a two-year postgraduate programme that focuses on food production, preservation, processing, packaging, and distribution technologies. From the acquisition of raw materials to the delivery of the completed product to the user, it comprises an assessment of the methods and techniques employed. The course's purpose is to reduce food waste at every level of the food manufacturing and distribution process. The training also focuses on producing a high-quality product, maintaining the nutritional value of food, extending the shelf life of the product, and ensuring that seasonal fruits and vegetables are available throughout the year.

  • Scope in India: Graduates and postgraduates in Food Technology can work in a variety of settings, including restaurants, hospitals, food processing companies, soft drink manufacturing firms, cereal and spice mills, rice mills, catering establishments, quality control organisations, packaging industries, and food research laboratories.

  • General examination pattern: Generally, standard assessments such as lab exercises, assignments, short projects, mid-semester assessments, and end-of-semester examinations are used to assess pupils.

Also Read: All About Food Technology

Food Technology Syllabus in NITs

The National Institute of Technology has several branches around India and is a popular institution for studying food technology. The aims of the engineering in food technology program are as follows:

  • The department's academic and research activities are focused on frontier areas of food process engineering such as food properties and prediction, post-harvest operations, food quality and safety, transport process and
  • kinetics, product development and ingredient innovation, food packaging and storage engineering, computer-aided food engineering, energy efficiency, process control and efficiency, automation, and manufacturing systems.
  • Food process engineers might specialise in design, development, research, maintenance, and operations such as processing, packaging, storage, and transportation.

Food Technology Syllabus in IITs

In the IIT system, the Department of Agricultural and Food Engineering is the only one of its kind. The department has a dedicated and knowledgeable team and offers undergraduate, graduate, master's, and doctoral programmes in a number of agricultural engineering and science areas.

1) In order to promote the National Education Policy, students are encouraged to take up internships in a variety of industries and corporate groups (NEP).

2) The department also encourages multidisciplinary research and offers financial support for the presentation of research findings in international venues, promoting interdisciplinary and international collaboration.

3) Precision agriculture, biofuel and bioenergy, modern food processing, plasticulture, and micro-irrigation are taught.

4) Climate Change, hydrological modelling, groundwater management, water management, agricultural biotechnology, pollution abatement, extrusion technology, intelligent and high-pressure packaging, soil mapping, and image analysis for plant phenotyping are among the major areas of research and development.

List of Subjects in Food Technology

Check below the syllabus of Food Technology.

Typical Core Subjects for Food Technology

Subject title

Subject details

Food biochemistry

The purpose of this subject is to improve understanding of the detailed composition of foods, particularly food components that are favourable to human health. Food biochemistry includes the use of contemporary chemical and biochemical analytical methods of food components and their reactions, model systems to investigate their responses, and effective statistical tools for data processing in order to obtain the most useful value.

Food microbiology

The study of microbes that inhabit, generate, or infect food is known as food microbiology. It includes the investigation of microorganisms that cause food deterioration. However, "good" bacteria, such as probiotics, are becoming more significant in food science.

Food processing

Food processing technology is a mix of physical, chemical, or microbiological procedures and techniques used to turn raw components into food and then into various food processing enterprises.

Food and vegetable technology

The goal of this product technology course is to give insights into particular product and process-related aspects in the processing of fruits and vegetables. At the completion of the course, students would have gained an understanding of the many physical, chemical, and nutritional aspects of fruits and vegetable-based products.

Typical Elective Subjects for Food Technology

Subject title

Subject details

Nutraceuticals

Nutraceuticals are items that are utilised as medication as well as for nourishment. A nutraceutical product is a chemical that offers a physiological advantage or protects against chronic illness.

Food technology and safety

The application of food science to the selection, preservation, processing, packaging, distribution, and usage of safe food is known as food technology and safety. Analytical chemistry, biotechnology, engineering, nutrition, quality control, and food safety management are all related areas.

Biochemical engineering

Students in this course learn how to design and manage equipment and systems that process and transport food and other biologically based products. Food businesses need assistance in the development of methods that add value to food products.

Detailed Syllabus for Food Technology

The food technology curriculum varies as per the institution or university, but the courses are typically the same. The following is a broad overview of the core and optional courses offered in the first through eighth semesters.

Semester

Core/Elective

Subject title

Subject Details

1 & 2

Food biochemistry

Food biochemistry

Definitions, applications, and analyses, as well as breakthroughs in food biotechnology, all come under the concept of food biochemistry. Enzymes, protein crosslinking, chymosin in cheesemaking, starch synthesis in the potato tuber, pectinolytic enzymes in tomatoes, and food hydration chemistry and biochemistry are some specific examples.

3

 

Food microbiology

Food microbiology

The study of microbes that inhabit, generate, or infect food is known as food microbiology. It includes the investigation of microorganisms that cause food deterioration. However, "good" bacteria, such as probiotics, are becoming more significant in food science. Furthermore, bacteria are required for the manufacture of foods such as cheese, yoghurt, and other fermented foods, as well as bread, beer, and wine.

4

Food engineering

Food engineering

Food engineering is a scientific, academic, and professional area that analyses and applies engineering, science, and mathematical concepts to food manufacture and operations such as food processing, production, handling, storage, conservation, control, packaging, and distribution.

5

Post-harvest physiology of fruits and vegetables

Post-harvest physiology of fruits and vegetables

Post-harvest alterations are physiological processes that occur naturally in all types of fruits and vegetables. Post-harvest modifications mostly affect the product's interior structure, but they can cause major changes in the important textural features.

6

Food fermentation

Food fermentation

Food fermentation is a food processing method that uses microbial growth and metabolic activity to stabilise and convert food ingredients. Fermentation was created largely to preserve perishable agricultural goods. Nonetheless, technology has progressed beyond food preservation to become a tool for developing desirable organoleptic, nutritional, and functional properties in food items.

7

Food packaging technology

Food packaging technology

Packaging technology may be crucial to a firm since it can be a key to competitive advantage in the food sector. This may be accomplished through catering to the end user's demands and desires, opening up new distribution channels, providing a higher quality of presentation, enabling cheaper costs, boosting profits, strengthening product/brand distinction, and improving customer logistical service.

8

Food industry waste management

Food industry waste management

The three R's of trash management – Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle – can assist food makers in decreasing landfill waste and reusing waste.

Specialisations Offered in Food Technology

Food technology entails numerous parts of science in order to create and construct revolutionary processing technologies, increase food quality and nutritional value, and improve the safety, wholesomeness, and availability of our food supply. It entails the study of food properties, nutritional composition, responses and changes that occur at various levels of processing and storage, and microbial aspects of food to avoid deterioration and increase shelf life.

Specialisation

Subjects

Details

Dairy Science and Technology

  • Food ingredient and Functionality

  • Food law

  • Food flavour design

  • Product and process design

  • Dairy science and technology

The Dairy Science & Technology specialty examines the whole dairy production chain, from raw milk through technology and the customer. The composition, quality, and nutritional value of milk and dairy products are all essential considerations.

Sustainable Food Process Engineering

  • Food Structuring

  • Product and process design

  • Sustainability in the food chain

This specialty focuses on the combination of food processing and sustainability. This specialisation is primarily intended for students who want to work in the food business.

Food Digestion and Health

  • Food ingredient functionality

  • Food structuring

  • Nutritional physiology

This expertise focuses on food as it travels through the digestive tract. Students will discover how the food matrix is digested and absorbed. Students will have a better grasp of the impact of different dietary elements on human health. Food digestion information may be used to build meals with desired qualities and functions.

Books and Authors Related to Food Technology

Students study a wide range of literature during their undergraduate or postgraduate studies because food technology is such a big field with so many experts. The following are some of the most often suggested books.

Subject

Book title

Author

Description

Food Chemistry

Food Chemistry

H. D. Belitz, Werner Grosch, Peter Schieberle

This book covers topics such as BSE detection and acrylamide. Allergies to foods, alcoholic drinks, and phytosterols are all being addressed more thoroughly. This book will be useful to food chemists, food technologists, biochemists, engineers, nutritionists, as well as to analytical chemists working in food and agricultural research, food industry, nutrition, food control, and service laboratories.

Food Microbiology

Food Microbiology

Martin R. Adams, Maurice O. Moss, Peter McClure

Covers the entire spectrum of contemporary food microbiology concerns. The textbook is a comprehensive and user-friendly account written for students of biological sciences, biotechnology, and food science. It will be useful to researchers, teachers, and practising food microbiologists as well.

Food Process Engineering

Food Process Engineering

Murlidhar Meghwal, Megh R. Goyal

This book offers a global view of today's frontiers in food process engineering research, innovation, and new trends. It contains a wealth of new knowledge on a wide range of challenges and difficulties in food processing technologies.

Food Microbiology

Food Microbiology

Osman Erkmen, T. Faruk Bozo?lu

This book discusses how to use food microbiology concepts for food preservation and processing. The main components of food preservation procedures are reviewed, as well as alternative food preservation strategies, the function of microorganisms in food processing, and their positive and negative characteristics.

Food Analysis & Safety

Food Safety for the 21st Century

Carol A. Wallace, William H. Sperber, Sara E. Mortimore

This book provides a practical and up-to-date manual addressing the basics of food safety management in the global supply chain, providing the reader with the information and skills needed to plan, execute, and maintain a world-class food safety programme.

Entrance Exams for Food Technology

For admission to certificate programmes and the UG degree leading to the B.Tech and B.Sc degree courses, the candidate must have completed the plus two examinations/12th class/10+2 with a minimum of 50 per cent in science subjects from chemistry, maths, physics, biology, and home science. Many Indian colleges and universities have made entrance examinations a requirement for admission to any of the aforementioned programmes.

The following are some of the admission tests offered by various institutions.

  1. JEEP (Joint Entrance Examination Polytechnic)

  2. IICPT (Indian Institute of Crop Processing Technology Entrance Examination)

  3. CFTRI (Central Food Technological Research Institute Entrance Examination)

  4. GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test Examination)

Candidates must compete in the JEEP entrance test for admission to diploma courses leading to the polytechnic diploma and the JEE Main 2022 entrance examination for admission to UG programmes.

Also Read: Top Entrance Exams for Food Technology

Syllabus for Distance Program in Food Technology

Distance education allows students who cannot afford full-time courses to obtain their degrees. In addition, students who are unable to satisfy the qualifying requirements for full-time courses may choose to pursue part-time or distance BTech in food technology programmes. The curriculum of distant education programmes is strikingly similar to that of traditional programmes. The evaluation format is essentially identical to that of standard courses (30% for internal assessment and 70% for the end-of-semester test).

GCT Coimbatore, SIT Darjeeling, UEC Ujjain, PMIST Thanjavur, GCE Salem, IIMT University Meerut, and SRM Institute of Science and Technology are the best distance education colleges.

Top Colleges for Food Technology

These are the best food technology institutions in India based on the curriculum, elective options, and in-house placement chances.

S.No.

College/University/Institution

Syllabus (URLs)

1

IIT Delhi

To be uploaded soon

2

IIT Kharagpur

Download Here

3

IIT Roorkee

To be uploaded soon

4

IIT Hyderabad

To be uploaded soon

5

IIT Varanasi

To be uploaded soon

6

Anna University

Download Here

7

VIT Vellore

Download Here

8

NIT Rourkela

Download Here

9

NIT Warangal

To be uploaded soon

10

NIT Calicut

To be uploaded soon

Read More: Top Food Technology Colleges

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Is biology required for a BTech in food technology?

A.

Biology is only required for entrance to a few universities. If you want to get into the finest universities for BTech in food technology, such as IITs and NITs, you must have taken biology as a core subject in 10+2. However, studying biology is optional if you want to get into other colleges such as VJIT, DY Patil Colleges, and others.

Q. Is food technology in high demand?

A. From 2018 to 2028, the employment of computer hardware engineers is expected to expand by 6%. Given this, there will be a huge need for computer engineers, and food technology has a very wide range of scope.

Q. What exactly is food technology, and what does it entail?

A. Food technology is a branch of science that investigates the processes used in the production, refining, preservation, packing, labelling, quality control, and distribution of food. This category also includes methods and techniques for converting raw resources into food.

Q. Which is more important, food science or food technology?

A. Food scientists study food to improve food safety, production, and nutrition. Food technologists are a subset of food scientists. These technologists frequently work with a company to create new flavours, ingredients, and products.

Q. Is maths required for a career in food technology?

A. Whether or not maths is required for food technology depends on the university you wish to attend. The majority of institutions expect applicants to have maths in their Class 12th.

 

Q. Is food technology difficult to study?

A. Depending on how one learns, food technology might be simple or difficult.

Q. Is food technology a good bachelor's degree programme?

A. Yes, food technology is a wonderful degree to take since food technology is a rapidly developing industry with several employment options.

Q. What employment options are available after completing a food technology course?

A. There are several employment options available after completing a food technology education. Bacteriologists, Food Technologists, Toxicologists, Dairy Technologists, Farm Managers, and Agricultural Inspectors are among them.

Q. Is a BSc in food technology or a BTech in food technology better?

A. Both the BSc in food technology and the B.Tech in food technology programmes have their own advantages. The decision between these two is determined by your long-term objectives. If you want to study more about industrial processes in-depth, a BTech in food technology will provide you with more hands-on experience. Students who want to do R&D in biological sciences, on the other hand, can enrol in BSc and MSc programmes.

Q. Is NEET required in food technology?

A. Food technology is a branch of biology that explores the interaction between biology and technology. Because it is an engineering programme, NEET results are not required for admission.

Q. What does a food technology professional make?

A. A BTech in food technology professional's typical income varies between Rs. 2 lakh and Rs. 10 lakh per year. This wage changes based on your profession. You can work as a medical writing executive, a medical representative, a professional lab technician, a microbiologist, or a variety of other jobs.

Q. How do I go about becoming a food technologist?

A. Food technology courses are available in India at the undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, and certificate levels. BTech in Food Technology, BSc in Food Technology, MTech in Food Technology, and MSc in Food Technology are some of the most popular food technology degrees in India.

Popular Exams

Following are the top exams for Food Technology. Students interested in pursuing a career on Food Technology, generally take these important exams.You can also download the exam guide to get more insights.

22 Jan ' 25 - 24 Jan ' 25

JEE Main 2025 Exam Date Session 1 - Paper 1

28 Jan ' 25 - 29 Jan ' 25

JEE Main 2025 Exam Date Session 1 - Paper 1

7 Jan ' 25

GATE 2025 Admit Card

1 Feb ' 25

GATE 2025 Exam (CS1 | AG | MA | CS2 | NM | MT | T...

30 Dec ' 24 - 15 Feb ' 25

MHT CET 2025 Application Form

16 Feb ' 25 - 22 Feb ' 25

MHT CET 2025 Application Form with late fee

Popular Food Technology Colleges in India

Following are the most popular Food Technology Colleges in India. Learn more about these Food Technology colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.
9 Courses
20 K - 10 L
21.28 LPA

#4 India Today

2 Courses
6.4 L
6 LPA

Top 25 in Tamil Nadu

4 Courses
9.6 K - 20.84 K
9.02 - 10 LPA

#14 The Week

1 Course
1.14 L
9 LPA

#6 India Today

3 Courses
1.4 L - 5 L
7.5 - 10 LPA

#21 India Today

6.48 L - 8.64 L
5.0

Food Technology Applications open. Apply Now

Popular Private Food Technology Colleges in India

1.1 L
7 LPA
1 Course
3.74 L
4 LPA
1 Course
1.57 L
3 LPA
5 Courses
5.68 K - 1.04 L
3 Courses
80 K - 1 L
2.7 - 4.5 LPA

Popular Food Technology UG Courses

Following are the most popular Food Technology UG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these UG Courses by clicking the links below.

UG Courses

Popular Food Technology PG Courses

Following are the most popular Food Technology PG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these PG Courses by clicking the links below.

PG Courses

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