Food Processing

Standard: 19.0 Describe Food Safety and

Processing Practices
Measurement Criteria:19.2 Describe food-
processing practices
 What is food processing?
• Techniques used to slow deterioration and
allow people to enjoy foods in a variety of
forms around the year and around the
globe.
• Food processing turns raw agricultural
product into attractive and consumable
food.
 What is the importance of food
processing to human health?
• increases variety
• increases convenience
• improves quality of food
 What are five food-processing
methods?
• Fermentation - Production of CO2 through anaerobic
respiration, also produces lactic acid alcohol in the
process.
• Canning - Sterilize food by getting it to a temperature of
212-250 F, then putting it into airtight containers
• Dehydration - Lowers moisture content to inhibit growth
of microorganisms
• Irradiation - Uses gamma rays to kill insects, bacteria,
fungi, etc. in food products.
• Blanching - Briefly scald food to inactivate enzymes that
cause undesirable changes.
 Method- Fermentation
• Advantages • Disadvantages
– Improves taste – Rather lengthy
– Adds value to crops, process in comparison
such as cucumber to other food
processing techniques.
 Method- Canning
• Advantages • Disadvantages
– Increases shelf life – Weight of product
– 2 years is considered – Requires specially
normal shelf life treated metal cans or
appropriate glass jars.
 Method-Dehydration
• Advantages • Disadvantages
– Increases shelf life up – Changes taste and
to 2 years texture of food
– Lighter weight – Typically requires
– Lower volume preparation to
reconstitute food.
 Method-Irradiation
• Advantage • Disadvantages
– Gamma rays pass – High cost
through without – Perception of
heating or changing it, irradiation
therefore no heat
sensitive nutrients are
lost in the process
 Method-Blanching
• Advantage • Disadvantage
– Improves taste – Storage limits
– Increases availability • Fruits & veggies 1 year
of out of season foods • Meat 3-6 months
• Freezing temperatures
required for storage