Many people know what it looks like when food is browning when they cook it, but likely do not know the scientific name of the process. The “Maillard reaction” is the chemical reaction that happens when food, such as meat, is being cooked and the colour changes. The Maillard reaction is also the process where flavour becomes evident, and occurs most frequently when food is being cooked at a high temperature. Without the reaction happening at the correct level of heat, there will be significantly less flavour present in the food being cooked. Here’s what food technology students should know.. READ MORE »
Foreign objects are defined as materials or components that don’t belong in food items. This includes natural materials (like small rocks or chipped wood), product components (like shells, bones, or feathers), and even processing elements (like plastic, metal, or glass parts from equipment or packaging). Foods containing these foreign objects can present a serious hazard. This blog post will explore the ways in which foreign objects can be identified, as well as how to prevent contamination in the first place. Relying on Various Foreign Object Detection Techniques to Ensure Food Quality and Safety An important step in ensuring top quality.. READ MORE »
When consumers shop for their groceries, they put their faith in food manufacturers and government regulators to establish a correct expiration date on each and every product they select. To prevent the serious consequences of poorly determined expiration dates such as illness outbreaks, product recalls, consumer distrust, and damage to brand reputation, the date food producers come up with must be carefully established according to rigid government rules and regulations. To understand more on what goes into establishing the shelf life of foods, let’s take a closer look. How Are Expiration Dates Determined? In Canada, the shelf life study is.. READ MORE »
Enzymes are something many people do not think about, but they are interacting and reacting in organisms all the time. They are produced naturally in animals and plants,and they play an important role in many biochemical processes that we rely on to get nutrients every day. What does this have to do with food handling? The history and development of how enzymes are used in the production and processing of food has been an important component of manufacturing in the food industry. For example, to create some household staples, such as cheese or bread, enzymes from other animals, plants, or.. READ MORE »
People working in the food industry have an obligation to ensure that the foods they work with are kept safe from cross-contamination. While the vast majority of food is safe, when problems do occur, such as product recalls and outbreaks of foodborne illnesses, they are often because of cross-contamination. Taking measures to prevent cross-contamination is something that should be done at every food facility, whether on the farm or in the kitchen. If you’re interested in a career in the food industry, here are three things you should know about cross-contamination. 1. Cross-Contamination Is Likely the Leading Cause of Food.. READ MORE »
Imagine a completely new way of growing food that doesn’t just have zero impact on the environment, but actually improves it. GreenWave, an innovative organization in New York, is looking to dramatically shift the way the world farms and produces food. The company’s CEO and Executive Director, Bren Smith, has been a commercial fisherman for all his life and believes ocean farming offers promising hope for a sustainable future. Read on to learn more about 3D ocean farming and what it could mean for students in food safety programs. 3D Ocean Farming Explained for Students in a Food Safety Program.. READ MORE »
There are plenty of unique ways to process food. Irradiation, blanching, fermentation, freezing, and drying are all methods for processing food items that are currently used in today’s food industry. Each method comes with its own unique benefits—whether it may be reducing the risk of food-borne illness, increasing storage longevity, or simply making the food item taste better. Drying is one of the oldest ways of preserving food. In fact, humans have been using this method for thousands of years. But while the method might not have changed very much over the centuries, its application has been streamlined by food.. READ MORE »
Canada takes food safety seriously. In fact, we have one of the best food safety systems in the world, according to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). In fact, the agency notes that “while no food system can guarantee zero risk, the CFIA’s comprehensive approach to inspection ensures that its resources are focused where the risk is highest and verifies the industry is producing safe food for consumers.” Of course, at the center of this world-class system are top professionals with food technology training. These diligent professionals work as production associates, food safety and quality assurance technicians, microbiologist technicians, product.. READ MORE »
Food colouring regulation has been one of the most controversial areas of food quality control for a long time. This is because over the years, some food dyes that were previously thought to be safe were eventually found to have harmful effects. As new studies and information have emerged, food industry professionals have quickly adapted to new regulations in order to continue to meet safety standards. That’s why some dyes that were once the norm are now strictly limited or banned altogether. And if you’re planning to pursue a food safety career, staying on top of new regulations will become.. READ MORE »
According to new research conducted during the ‘Food Safety Month’ of November, many people are increasing their chances of food poisoning by believing a number of dangerous food safety myths. Food storage, cooking, cleaning, and of course, eating is a central part of every person’s daily life, so harbouring misconceptions about food safety can put Canadians at risk every single day. That’s why people like you are needed in the food safety profession, to set society straight on what is and isn’t safe to eat. With the right training, you can start this important work yourself. To begin on the.. READ MORE »
