Food Technology is a science branch that deals with the techniques involved in the production, processing, preservation, packaging, labelling, quality management, and distribution of food products. The field also involves techniques and processes that are used to transform raw materials into food. Extensive research goes behind making food items edible as well as nutritious. Food Technology is a sub-branch of engineering offered at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels as BTech/MTech in Food Process Engineering or Food Technology course. Candidates understand the basics of nutrition and the microbiological concept of food. During BTech or MTech, students can also specialise in areas of food processing such as Bakery, Alcohol, Nutraceuticals, Oil products etc. With modern advancements in the field of Food Technology, we require professionals in this field. And, this has led to the emergence of Food Technology courses. There is a plethora of opportunities for students who wish to pursue a course in Food Technology. Graduates or postgraduates in the course can seek jobs in different domains such as restaurants, catering establishments, hospitals, food processing companies, etc.
Food Technology Course: Highlights
Students can check some of the important highlights of Food Technology such as course structure, course fees, admission process, job profiles, top recruiters from the table given below:
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Courses | BTech, BE, MTech, PhD, Integrated BTech-MTech, BSc, MSc |
| Course Level | Graduation/ Postgraduation/ Doctorate/ Diploma |
| Eligibility | Diploma: Class 10UG: Class 12 along with entrance examinationPG: BTech + GATE or BScDoctorate: MTech or MSc |
| Duration | Diploma: 3 yearsUG: 4 yearsPG: 2 yearsPhD: 3- 6 years |
| Examination Type | Semester-wise |
| Annual Fee | INR 50,000 to 5 lakh |
| Top Colleges | IIT Kharagpur, Jadavpur University, NIT Rourkela, Chandigarh University |
| Average Salary | INR 4 to 13 LPA |
| Top Job Profiles | Quality Manager, Nutritional Therapist, Regulatory Affairs Officer, Product/Process Development Scientist |
| Entrance Exams | JEE Main, LPUNEST, MET, GATE, JEE Advanced |
| Top Recruiters | MTR, Dabur, Godrej Industrial, ITC, Britannia, PepsiCo, Nestle India etc. |
All About Food Technology Course
Food Technology is the field of science which deals with the production, manufacturing, preservation, testing and research and development of various food products. Food Technology courses equip learners with the various skills to process and preserve food products and enhance their nutritional qualities. They are also responsible for the effective packaging and marketing of finished food products.
Why pursue Food Technology Course?
Food Technology is a discipline which is either offered as a three-year BSc programme or a four-year BTech programme. The major difference is between the skills offered and the course curriculum. They are taught various processes of keeping food products safe and resistant to damage and spoilage. Candidates also learn how to enhance flavours and nutritional qualities of food products such as power foods or super foods. They also acquire technical expertise in managing food industries.
Who can pursue Food Technology Course?
Food Technology can be pursued after completing Class 12th in Science background. Candidates who have taken Home Science at the Senior Secondary level are also encouraged to take up Food Technology or Food Science at the undergraduate level provided they have also studied Physics, Chemistry and Biology. They are taught various food beautification techniques and storage methods to increase the shelf-life of various food products.
What is the scope of Food Technology?
One of the major applications of Food Technology is the addition of nutrients in packaged and processed food items. They are also responsible for manufacturing convenience meals such as packaged soups, ready-to-make food items and fruits and juices for working people or defence personnel. One can also specialise in various sub-disciplines in Food Technology such as Dairy Technology, Alcoholic Beverages, Bakery and Confectionery Items, Fruits and Vegetables, Meat and Fish Packaging etc.
Food Technology Course Eligibility Criteria
Students can opt to pursue a degree, diploma, or doctorate program in Food Technology at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
- To pursue the course at the undergraduate level, candidates should clear Class 12th in Science stream with subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, and Home Science and minimum qualifying marks as prescribed by a university/ college (usually 50% – 60%).
- To pursue a Food Technology course at the postgraduate level, candidates should possess a BSc (in Physics, Mathematics, Biology, and Chemistry) or BTech/ BE (in Food Technology) degree with the minimum qualifying marks as prescribed at a university/ college.
- To pursue a Food Technology course at the doctorate level, candidates should have completed MTech in Food Technology or MSc in Food Science with the minimum qualifying marks as prescribed at a university/college.
Popular Food Technology Entrance Exams 2023
Most universities/ colleges provide admission to candidates in Food Technology courses offered by them on the based on a written entrance exam. However, some institutions also provide direct admission to candidates based on their scores in the last qualifying exam. The various entrance examinations are as follows:
| Exam | Exam Dates | Exam Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| JEE Main | JEE Main 2024 Exam Date Session 1-24 Jan ’24 – 1 Feb ’24JEE Main 2024 Exam Date Session 2-1 Apr ’24 – 15 Apr ’24 | JEE Main Schedule |
| JEE Advance | Jun ’24 (Tentative) | JEE Advanced Schedule |
| MHTCET | PCM and PCB- May ’24 (Tentative) | MHTCET Schedule |
| CUET | 15 May ’24 – 31 May ’24 | CUET Schedule |
| TS EAMCET | TS EAMCET 2024 exam for AM and Eng stream- May ’24 (Tentative) | TS EAMCET Schedule |
Top Food Technology Colleges in India
There are a total of 274 colleges in India that offers Food Technology course. India is home to many good institutes that have been offering quality learning opportunities in their Food Technology course. Course Fees and placement opportunities are two important criteria to decide college for pursuing Food Technology. There are many top government and private engineering colleges which offer Food Technology courses. Below is the list of top colleges of Food Technology in India from where students can pursue their degree courses. The colleges mentioned in the table are listed alphabetically and not in any order of ranking hierarchy.’
Top Food Technology Government Colleges
Some of the top government colleges for pursuing Food Technology courses includes various IITs as well as other central and state universities which offer UG, PG and doctorate courses. The popular government colleges are as follows:
| Name of the College | Total Fees Range in INR |
|---|---|
| Annamalai University | 50 K |
| Guru Nanak Dev University | 1- 5 lakh |
| Institute of Chemical Technology | 1- 3 lakh |
| Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology, Thanjavur | 2- 3 lakh |
| Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur | 20 K- 10 lakh |
| Jadavpur University | 5 K – 21 K |
| National Institute of Technology, Rourkela | 2- 5 lakh |
| NIFTEM, Sonepat | 2- 6 lakh |
| Panjab University | 5 lakh |
| Tezpur University | 90 K- 2 lakh |
Top Food Technology Private Colleges
Some of the private colleges including Deemed to be Universities as well as other autonomous engineering institutes. They provide excellent infrastructure and experts in the field of Food Technology which makes these colleges popular for pursuing Food Technology. The colleges are as follows:
| Institute | Total Fees Range in INR |
|---|---|
| Amity University, Noida | 3- 18 lakh |
| Chandigarh University | 6- 8 lakh |
| Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education | 4 lakh |
| Karunya Institute of Technology and Science | 2- 9 lakh |
| KEC Engineering College | 50K- 2 lakh |
| Lovely Professional University | 3- 10 lakh |
| Sharda University | 2- 8 lakh |
| Shoolini University | 4- 9 lakh |
| UPES Dehradun | 10 lakh |
| Vignan’s Foundation for Science, Technology and Research | 2- 7 lakh |
Food Technology Career, Scope and Job Profiles
Students can take up Food Technology jobs at the undergraduate or postgraduate level. While a bachelor’s degree is sufficient to work as a food technologist, a master’s degree gives candidates the required competitive edge. A master’s or doctoral degree is also important for those who want to build their career in research.
Graduates or postgraduates in Food Technology can take up jobs in different domains such as hospitals; restaurants; food processing companies; catering establishments; soft drink manufacturing firms; spice, cereal, and rice mills; quality control organizations; food research laboratories; and packaging industries. Students with a postgraduate degree can also secure jobs at places such as biotechnology and bioinformatics companies, water conservation and research institutes and the pharmaceutical industry.
Top Job Profiles for Food Technology
Also, check some of the popular job profiles that are best suited for Food Technology graduates/ postgraduates:
| Profile | Description | Average Annual Salary in INR |
|---|---|---|
| Lab Technician | Major responsibility of a lab technician is to provide all technical support needed to enable the lab to function effectively. A lab technician performs tasks such as sampling, testing, measuring, as well as analyzing results. | 4.5- 6 LPA |
| Research Scientist | A research scientist’s job includes carrying out experiments that lead to improvement in yield, flavour, nutrition, and general acceptability of packaged food. | 6- 8 LPA |
| Organic Chemist | An organic chemist is a professional who recommends the methods by which raw materials should be converted into processed food. | 3.5- 5 LPA |
| Biochemist | The role of a biochemist is similar to that of an organic chemist. A biochemist suggests improvements in the quality, flavour, texture, storage, etc. of food. | 6- 8 LPA |
| Quality Controller | The job role of a quality controller/ food inspector is to ensure the quality of food that is being produced is maintained. For the same, a food inspector runs a variety of tests on both packaging as well as the food and ensures that food that reaches people is safe to consume. | 8- 10 LPA |
| Manager and Accountant | One of the major job responsibilities of a manager is to supervise the processing work. Apart from this, a manager also manages the administration and finances of the food. | 8- 11 LPA |
| Home Economist | A home economist is an expert in nutrition and dietetics. The professional’s main job is to test the food and recipes as per the directions mentioned on the containers. | 3- 5 LPA |
| Engineer | An engineer in the industry of Food Technology is required for planning, designing, improving, as well as maintaining the processing systems. | 7- 10 LPA |
| Food Product Development Officer | A food product development director helps in developing new technologies that further help in the preservation as well as the packaging of food items. | 10- 12 LPA |
Top Recruiters for Food Technology
Some of the reputed recruiters in the field of Food Technology are:
| Top Recruiters in Food Technology | |
|---|---|
| MTR Foods Limited | Amul |
| Dabur India Limited | Godrej Industrial Limited |
| PepsiCo India Holdings | Britannia Industries Limited |
| Nestle India Private Limited | ITC Limited |
| Agro Tech Foods | Parle Products Private Limited |
| Perfetti India Limited | Hindustan Lever Limited |