Food Engineering

The food engineer is the person who plans the efficient processing, protection and storage of food raw materials in accordance with the standards, implements and develops new systems.Food engineering is actually a branch of engineering that we can call multidisciplinary.

Food engineers can specialize in design, development, research, maintenance and operations such as processing, packaging, storage and transportation.

The main purpose is the people who use the inputs in the best way as in every engineering and obtain maximum efficiency and at the same time deliver the quality product to the consumer.

In some countries, food engineering has a responsibility as a food science or process engineer.

Food engineering is often confused with careers such as dietetics or culinary. wherever you are in the world, this is a very confusing situation. I often faced the question, "When you graduate, will you be a cook?". These careers are related to each other but different from those of a food engineer.

What Does a Food Engineer Do?

Its main purpose; to ensure that the products we consume at our table are consumed 'from the field to the fork' in a safe and healthy way. For this purpose, a few main categories where food engineers work;

• Research & Development

• Production

• Quality Control

• Food Safety

• Sales & Marketing

• Supply Chain

• Academia

Education

Food engineers combine engineering concepts with science (biology, chemistry, and physics) , math and processing operations to create the best ways to make processed foods tasty, healthy and safe. In addition, education in many areas such as nutrition, food packaging and quality is required.Knowledge of computer programming, microprocessor applications, statistics, and engineering economics is encouraged. Training is reinforced with laboratory and practical lessons.

As it is understood, before starting this stringent training process, you must make sure that you want to do this job.

In My Opinion

  The food industry is one of the largest across the globe. You can find yourself working in marketing, teaching, safety, quality management, nutrition, sales, teaching and many other areas. Although it is affiliated with a department, there are many areas to consider.Even it sounds tiring, it keeps exciting and vigorous.

  A food engineer's most important job is to ensure food safety, supply, nutrition, and stability. At the same time, the properties of food such as delicious, attractive and useful should be taken into consideration.

 

It is an amazing feeling to produce a new product. It is not enough for the product to be just delicious or healthy. There are many criteria in evaluation. All production stages are planned from raw materials to the final product, risks are determined, improvements are made. Although packaging seems simple, it is an area in itself. Cost is considered for both the manufacturer and the consumer. It is desired to bring the type of consumption and storage conditions to the best possible level. Waste management is a stage that should not be overlooked. Like every job, teamwork and human management are very important.It is necessary to reveal the aspects that make the product superior to others.

When you see the product on sale, all fatigue is replaced by smile and pride. Management, quality, laboratory, marketing, etc. no matter which part you work in, being part of this job, you feel the same feeling.

  There were times when I had difficulties during my education. I still get scared when I remember the unit operations lesson. There were times when I thought about why we learned them, but later I understood why. I had to tell people that I would not be a cook. But I have never regretted that I am a food engineer. 

    It is not enough to say that the food area is interesting and I love to eat. You must have the patience to examine a subject in-depth and broadly. If we consider that we learned wheat before producing pasta, we can say that it is a detailed process from start to finish. You should be ready for long lab hours, reports. You must be open to research, criticism, and start over when necessary.

 So far I have had the opportunity to work in the fields of laboratory, production and quality. Each area gave a different perspective. There were moments when I said this should be a nightmare when at work, like everyone else, let's talk clearly.I got new ideas as the problems were solved  Engineering is like this, I think, to solve problems with less energy in less time. But if you do what you love, these remain small moments and problems go by.