FOOD PROCESSING AND PRESERVATION

CONTENT

1. Meaning of Food Processing
2. Meaning of Processed Foods
3. Food Preservation and Storage
4. Types of Preservation and Storage
5. Meaning of Food Preservation
6. Reasons for Preserving Food
7. Food Preservation Methods

Meaning of Food Processing

Food processing may be defined as the methods and techniques used to transform raw ingredients or agricultural produce into food fit for consumption by humans or animals.

Meaning of Processed Foods

Processed foods are foods that have been altered from their natural state, either for safety reasons or convenience. Processing methods include canning, freezing, refrigeration, dehydration and aseptic processing. Processed food include:

(i) Low and non-fat milk is a good processed food. It has been pasteurized to kill bacteria and homogenized to kill bacteria and homogenized to keep fat from separating.

(ii) Whole grain cereal fortified with additional nutrients.

(iii) Frozen fruits and vegetables that do not contain any sauce, sugar or syrup are examples of processed foods.

(iv) Other good and safe processed foods are oatmeal, frozen fish, seafood, canned salmon and tuna, dried fruits, roasted nuts and seeds and 100% whole grain bread.