Food Science and Innovation

Overview

Through this course, you’ll explore 21st century food manufacturing and develop your understanding of how the biochemical properties of food components influence how foods taste and feel, and how they impact nutrition and health.

You’ll explore sensory evaluation, food law and how global trends in trade, regulation and policy influence the sustainability and wider impact of the food chain. You’ll also consider topics such as modern production and analytical technologies, functional foods and labelling legislation, and how to ensure that foods are nutritious and safe to eat.

Technical skills are vital to the food industry and they’re an important part of this course. In our dedicated food technology and biochemistry laboratories, you’ll have practical sessions in areas of food production, evaluating the sensory properties of foods, microbiological quality, and the chemical and physical analysis of foods.

You’ll also complete a food development project where you’ll create your own innovative foods, working on everything from marketing and sensory analysis to legal requirements – and you’ll create your product too.

Past projects include functional yogurts for elderly consumers, and sustainable vegan ice cream made with tiger nuts.

Features and Benefits

- Technical skills - You’ll learn skills in food production, sensory analysis, microbiology and biochemistry.

- Industry standard facilities - You’ll use our on-campus food manufacturing facilities, which includes a 10-booth sensory taste panel suite, development kitchens, and food biochemistry and physiology laboratories.

- Food safety - You’ll carry out all aspects of food safety testing (including food microbiology, shelf-life studies, mycology, RT-PCR, microscopy, and species identification) in our on-campus food safety laboratory.

- Professional development - You can access student membership of the Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST).