Career Opportunities in Food Technology – Check here

Career in Food Technology: Food is the most important part of our life. Without it, no one can survive. Every day, we consume food differently. The experts are called food technologists who come with new ideas and flavors for various food products that we consume in our daily lives. After revolutionary development in new technologies and the increasing demand for food technologists, it has become a rewarding career option.

The jobs for food technology graduates is to develop new ideas and work to develop food manufacturing and preservation for keeping the food safe and hygienic and enhancing its color, flavor, and resistance from natural harms like microorganisms and toxins. Students having a specific interest in food technology and food products pursue a career in the field of Food Technology; it will also help them take the food sector of the country to another level. Read on to get more information about career in food technology.

Career in Food Technology: Course Introduction

The food sector in India is growing faster and creating plenty of job options for food technologists. In India, there are different food technology courses available at undergraduate, postgraduate, doctorate, diploma levels for the students seeking a career in food technology. Some of India’s popular food technology courses are B.Tech in Food technology, B.Sc Food Technology, M.Tech in Food Technology, M.Sc Food Technology, etc. 

Generally, Food Technologists are concerned with the biological, chemical, and physical composition of all foodstuffs used for processing. In food technology courses, the students use various methods to study the content of the food. They use the information to develop new food products or improve the value, packaging, production, and selection of existing food products. In addition, food Technologists evaluate methods used in food production facilities and ensure that food safety standards are met as per the requirement of consumers/clients. Other responsibilities performed by the food technologists may include discovering new sources of food, testing for contaminants or harmful additives, and so on!

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After attaining a food tech degree or diploma, you can work as food technologists, food safety officers, food production managers, sensory evaluators, technical brewers, quality control managers, etc. Thousands of private food production companies hire Food Technologists in the government sector. Food technology degree holders are selected for various job profiles such as Quality Manager, Regulatory Affairs Officer, Production Managers, etc. Students can also work in various government-run food product manufacturing companies across the country.

Jobs for Food Technology

Food Science and Technology is a branch of science that deals with the techniques involved in production, packaging, labeling, processing, preservation, quality management, and distribution of food products. A food technologist uses techniques and processes to transform raw materials into food. Food technologists plan to manufacture food products (including beverages) and perform a wide range of job responsibilities. Consequently, the job and responsibilities of Food Science and Technology professionals may vary and include the following:

1. Designing processes and machinery for the production of recipes on a large scale
2. Ensuring that strict hygiene food safety standards are met
3. Generating new product ideas and recipes
4. Identifying and choosing products from suppliers
5. Liaising with marketing staff
6. Modifying and improving existing recipes
7. Monitoring the use of additives
8. Testing and examining samples
9. Writing reports

Food Technology Job Opportunities: Types

Over the last decades, the world is witnessing great progress in the food sector; therefore, the demand for Food Science and Technology professionals has been increasing. With the growing new technologies, this sector is growing as a big market in countries like India. Using chemistry, microbiology, engineering, and other sciences, the food technician becomes a need for the food market. Below, we have mentioned the type of Food Science and Technology professionals: 

1. Research Scientist: A research scientist carries out various experiments using chemistry, microbiology, engineering, and other sciences that lead to improved yield, flavor, nutrition, and general acceptability of the packaged food. 
2. Food Inspector/ Quality Controller: The main job of a food inspector/ a quality controller is to ensure the quality of food produced is maintained. A food inspector runs a variety of tests on both packagings and the food and ensures that the food that the people consume is safe.
3. Lab Technician: The lab technician is mainly responsible for providing all technical support needed to enable the lab to function effectively. They are bound to perform tasks like sampling, testing, measuring, as well as analyzing results.
4. Organic Chemist: Organic chemists recommend methods by which raw materials are converted into processed food.
5. Biochemist: The role of a biochemist is similar to the role of an organic chemist. They suggest improvements in food quality, texture, flavor, storage, etc. 
6. Food Engineer: Those who have completed B.Tech in Food Technology can opt to become a Food Engineer. An engineer in the food industry is required to plan, design, improve, and maintain the processing systems. 
7. Food Product Development Director: A food product development director helps in the preservation and packaging of food items. 
8. Managers and Accountants: After pursuing a degree in Food Technology, one can also become a manager or accountant in various food production companies. They are mainly responsible for supervising the processing work. Apart from this, a manager also manages the administration and finances affair of food production.  
9. Home Economist: A home economist is an expert in nutrition and dietetics. They also test the food and recipes as per the directions mentioned on the containers. 

Career in Food Technology: Pros and Cons

Before choosing a career path, one must check both the good and bad sides of the same to be sure about their decision. The points below mentions some pros and cons of a career in food technology:

Pros 

1. The largest industry is why numerous government and private job opportunities everywhere in the world.
2. The market for food science and its branch is growing faster, so new job options are available.
3. Food Technology covers all department types from Research to marketing that makes the job holder versatile, multidisciplinary, and qualitative.
4. After putting in years of experience, the field of food technology opens up an opportunity for a good pay packet.
5. This is the best job for those who are a foodie and love traveling around the globe.

Cons

1. The job holders have to do a lot of research work in terms of food and its data, and also the available documents are too lengthy that can bore you some time. 
2. To be successful, experienced, and earn a huge amount of money as a monthly or annual salary, one must be patient.
3. This stream is for the passionate ones, not for those who are money-oriented because, at the beginning of a career, the salary will be low compared to other streams.

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Career in Food Technology: Skills Required 

Candidates who complete or study in a certificate, diploma, and degree programs related to food technology tend to get a job easier than those relying on the skills. While pursuing a course in food technology, the students must develop the skills to meet the industry requirement. To pursue a successful career in the field of food technology, one must acquire the following set of skill:

1. Excellent written and oral communication skills
2. Meticulous attention to detail, especially about food hygiene and safety
3. Strong analytical and numerical skills
4. Good team working abilities
5. Confidence
6. The ability to work independently

Career Opportunities in Food Technology: Courses

Those who are desiring to make a career in food technology and contribute to the development of the industry must pursue a Food Technology course from a recognized college/institute. In India, Food Technology courses are offered at diploma, undergraduate, and postgraduate levels. Hundreds of colleges/institutes offer food technology programs in India; most of them offer UG-level Food technology programs such as B.tech in Food Technology, B.Sc in Food Technology.

In addition, many institutes also offer diploma or certificate courses in Food Technology, which complete in 6 months to 2 years, while the total duration of the B.Tech program in Food Technology is 4 years. In contrast, the master-level program in Food Technology is completed in 2 years. Below we have provided the complete list of courses offered in the field of food technology:

Polytechnic diploma course 1 to 3 years

1. Diploma Course in Food Analysis and Quality Assurance
2. Diploma in Food Science Technology
3. Diploma in Food Science, Preservation and Management

UG degree courses (3 to 4 years)

1. Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) in Food Technology
2. Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) in Food Science
3. Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) in Food and Nutrition
4. Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) in Food Preservation
5. Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) in Food Engineering

PG degree courses (2 years) 

1. Master of Science (M.Sc) in Food Science
2. Master of Science (M.Sc) in Food Technology
3. Master of Science (M.Sc) in Food and Fermentation Technology and Food Science
4. Master of Science (M.Sc) in Food and Nutrition
5. Master of Technology (M.Tech) in Food Technology

Apart from the above-mentioned course, several certificate courses in food technology are offered in India. 

Career in Food Technology: Specializations

The specializations in the field of food technology are as the following:

1. Alcohol
2. Bakery and confectionery items
3. Cereals
4. Food
5. Fruits and vegetables
6. Meat- Fish
7. Oil and oilseed processing
8. Sugar

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Career in Food Technology: Eligibility Criteria

Students desiring to get admission in the Food Technology course at any level must go through the eligibility criteria before applying for admission at any institute/college. We have mentioned below the eligibility criteria for each level of Food Technology courses: 

1. Diploma Course: Candidates must have passed class 10 or its equivalent exam from a recognized board with a minimum of 45% marks each in Science and Mathematics as compulsory subjects.
2. Undergraduate Level: Candidates must have completed class 12th or its equivalent exam from a recognized board by the government of India with a minimum of 45% aggregate marks to be considered eligible for admission to the UG level Food technology program. 
3. Post Graduation Level: For admission to MSc in Food Technology, the candidates who are passed BSc in Food Technology from a recognized university by the government of India with the minimum passing percentage in the aggregation of all subjects studied in the undergraduate program will be considered eligible, and the candidates who want to get admission in M.tech in Food technology must have passed in B.tech in Food Technology from a recognized college/institute. 
4. Ph.D. Courses: Candidates holding a master-level course in the field of Food Technology or its equivalent from a recognized college/university/institute with a minimum passing percentage in aggregate marks can apply for admission to Ph.D. in Food Technology programs.

Career Prospects in Food Technology: Admission Procedure

In India, admission to UG and PG level Food Technology courses is made through entrance examination mode. Then, students are directly selected for admission to a diploma-level course based upon the merit of the candidates in the qualifying exam. B. Tech in Food Technology and B.Sc in Food technology are the most popular programs in India, and reputed institutes like IITs, NITs offer these programs. Check the step-by-step process involved in the B.Tech or B.Sc in Food Technology admission process below:

1. Candidates must have appeared for national or state level entrance exams such as JEE Main, WBJEE, UPSEE, OJEE, etc. To be considered eligible for admission to B. Tech in Food Technology program. 
2. Candidates who have a valid scorecard in a state-level or national level entrance test should now complete the registration process under the given time period. The application process can be completed on the official website of the course offering institute. To complete the registration process, the candidates will have to create an account needs while providing the basic detail of the candidate. The candidates have to fill up the registration form with all the necessary details and will also have to pay the required registration fee amount using the available payment method.
3. The concerned college/ Institute then releases a cutoff list and other programs as per the announced schedule. Generally, the cutoff list is released after the declaration of the related entrance test result. If the candidates have qualified for the entrance examinations and have cleared the cutoff list released by the institute, they will be selected for the next round.
4. In the end, the counseling process will be conducted by the official authority of the concerned college/ institute for students who have cleared the entrance exam. The eligible candidates will have to take admission in the B.Sc/ B.Tech in Food Technology course through a state-level/ national level or institute-level counseling process.

Career in Food Technology: Top Colleges

There are around 215 colleges in India that offer food technology courses at different levels. Out of these colleges, approximately 54% are private while the rest are public/ government/public-private. Based on the overall performance of the College/Institute, and they are all India ranking, we have mentioned below the top food technology colleges in India:

1. Agricultural & Food Engineering Department, IIT Kharagpur
2. Amrita University (Research Projects)
3. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology
4. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
5. CCS Haryana Agriculture University
6. Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI)
7. Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE)
8. Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering & Technology (CIPHET)
9. Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI)
10. Centre for Food Science & Technology, Sambalpur University
11. Department of Food Science and Nutrition, SNDT Women’s University
12. Department of Food Science and Technology, Pondicherry University
13. Dept. of Food Process Engineering, SRM University
14. Faculty of Food Safety and Quality
15. Food and Drug Toxicology Research Centre (FDTRC)
16. IISc Bangalore
17. IISER – Pune
18. Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI)
19. Indian Institute of Crop Processing Technology (IICPT)
20. Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (IITR)
21. Indian Institute of Vegetable Research (IIVR)
22. Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI)
23. International Life Sciences Institute – India (ILSI)
24. National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute (NABI)
25. National Food Research Institute (NDRI)
26. National Institute of Abiotic Stress Management (NIAM)
27. National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management (NIFTEM)
28. National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD)
29. National Institute of Nutrition (NIN)
30. School of Health Sciences, University of Calicut
31. School of Life Sciences, JNU

Career in Food Technology: Top Entrance Exams

Admission to various diploma, certificate, and UG level programs in food technology is made directly based on the merit of the candidates in the qualifying exam. At the same time, some institute offers admission through aptitude tests. B.Sc in food technology and B.Tech in food technology are the most popular programs among students. Admission to B.Sc courses are done through national or state or university/institute level entrance tests whereas, admission to the B.tech program is done through the following entrance tests:

1. JEE Main
2. JEE Advanced
3. GATE Exam
4. UPSEE/AKTU Exam
5. BITSAT Exam
6. VITEEE Exam
7. IPU CET Exam
8. COMEDK Exam
9. KCET Exam
10. MHT CET Exam
11. JEEP 2020 (Joint Entrance Examination Polytechnic)
12. CFTRI (Central Food Technological Research Institute Entrance Examination)
13. IICPT (Indian Institute of Crop Processing Technology Entrance Examination)

Besides the above-mentioned exams, many other state levels, university level, and national level entrance tests are conducted in India to provide UG level Food Technology courses admission. 

Government Food Technology Jobs: Course Curriculum

In India, a number of Food Technology programs are offered at different levels, but B.tech, M.Tech, B.Sc, and M.Sc in food tech are the popular programs among the students across the country. The subjects included in the B.Tech and B.Sc in Food Technology programs are almost similar in most of the colleges/institutes/universities that offer programs in Food Technology.

In the table below, we have furnished the subject-wise syllabus of Food Technology courses in India:

Syllabus for B.Tech Food Technology Jobs

Syllabus for B.Sc Food Technology Jobs

Syllabus for M.Tech in Food Technology

Syllabus for M.Sc in Food Technology

Syllabus for Ph.D. in Food Technology

Career in Food Technology: Books

The points below mentions the name of some of the most preferred books and references:

1. Food Preservation Process Design By Dennis Held man
2. Sensory Evaluation Practices By Herbert Stone, Rebecca Bleibaum,
3. Introduction to Food Toxicology By Takayuki Shibamoto, Leonard Bjeldanes
4. Thermo bacteriology in Food Processing By C. Stumbo
5. Food Process Engineering and Technology by Zeki Berk
6. Foodborne Infections and Intoxications by J. Glenn Morris, Morris Potter
7. Wine Science By Ronald Jackson
8. The Produce Contamination Problem by Karl Matthews, Gerald Sapers
9. Starch: Chemistry and Technology by Roy Whistler, James Be Miller,
10. Microwaves in the Food Processing Industry by Bernard Schweigert, Richard Mudgett, Robert Decareau
11. Statistical Methods in Food and Consumer Research by John Hawthorn, George Stewart, Bernard Schweigert
12. The Chemistry and Technology of Pectin by Steve Taylor, Reginald Walter
13. Practical Design, Construction, and Operation of Food Facilities By J. Peter Clark

Career in Food Technology: Course Fee Structure 

The fee structure for B.tech in Food Technology program in the topmost colleges or Institutions is between 75,000 to 5,50000. The fee structure for diploma and other PG-level Food technology courses in private and government institutes/colleges is between 20,000 to 2,00000. In the table below, we have provided the fee structure for Food Technology courses:

Career in Food Technology: Job Opportunities

Once you complete a diploma, certificate, UG, PG, or doctoral level Food Technology courses, ample job opportunities are available for you in India. Food firms and farms generally hire food Technicians for the processing of Food Products across the country. As per the need to today’s food market, you can be hired for any of the following job profiles:

1. Food and Beverage Departments
2. Food Business Management
3. Food Marketing
4. Food Processing and Production Organisations
5. Food Safety Manufacturing Units
6. Laboratories
7. Processing and Distributing Units
8. Quality Assurance Units
9. Research Units
10. Storage Units

Career in Food Technology: Top Job Offering Organizations

Once you have a degree or diploma in Food Technology by your side, you can start your career as a Food scientist or food technician in various private firms or work with various research and development organizations supervised by the government. In the private sector, Several job profiles such as Food Technologists, Organic Chemists, Biochemists, Analytical Chemists, Home Economists, Engineers, Research Scientists, Managers are available for the graduates and diploma holders.

Some of the reputed recruiters who offer jobs for food technology graduates are as the following:

1. Agro Tech Foods
2. Amul
3. Britannia Industries Ltd
4. Cadbury India Ltd
5. Dabur India Ltd
6. Gits Food Products Pvt Ltd
7. Godrej Industrial Limited
8. Hindustan Lever Limited
9. ITC Limited
10. Milkfood
11. MTR Foods limited
12. Nestle India Pvt Ltd
13. Parle Products Pvt Ltd
14. PepsiCo India Holdings
15. Perfetti India Ltd

Career in Food Technology: Offered Salary

Those who have studied Food Technology can start working in both public and private sectors. The Food Technologist is offered various kinds of job profiles with a good salary package. However, the salary offered to the Food Technology professionals varies from company to company; it depends upon the type of task he/she performs.

In India, the starting salary for a fresher is between Rs. 2,00,000 and Rs. 5,20000 per annum, whereas an experienced Food Technology professional can easily earn up to Rs. 5,50,000 to Rs. 30,00,000 per year. Table below mentions the pay scale for different job profiles of food technologist in India:

FAQs on Career in Food Technology

Some of the frequently asked questions on Career in Food Technology are mentioned below:

Q.1: What is Food Technology?
Ans: Food Science and Technology is a branch of science that deals with the techniques involved in the production, packaging, labeling, processing, preservation, quality management, and distribution of food products. Food Technologist uses techniques and processes to transform raw materials into food.

Q.2: How can I become a Food Technologist?
Ans: There are different Food technology courses available at undergraduate and postgraduate, diploma, and certificate levels in India. Some of India’s popular Food technology courses are B.Tech in Food Technology, B.Sc in Food Technology, M.Tech in Food Technology, and MSc in Food Technology, etc.

Q.3: What are the main responsibilities of diary technologists?
Ans: Food Technologist uses techniques and processes to transform raw materials into food. Some of the common job responsibilities of food technology professionals include designing processes and machinery to produce recipes on a large scale, ensuring that strict hygiene food safety standards are met, generating new product ideas and recipes, etc. 

Q.4: What is the total duration of the M.Sc in Food technology program?
Ans: The most popular UG programs are B.Tech and B.Sc in Food technology. However, many students who pursue a B.Sc in food technology prefer to continue their studies to gain a deep knowledge of the subject. Therefore, such candidates need to pursue M.Sc in food technology which is a 2 years full-time program.

Q.5: What are the eligibility criteria to get admission to a UG-level Food technology program?
Ans: To be eligible for the UG level Food technology program, you must have passed class 12th or its equivalent exam from a recognized board by the government of India with a minimum of 45% aggregate marks.

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