Food Technology Courses After 12th for a Career in the Food Industry *

Food technology is an interdisciplinary field which involves employing chemistry, biology and engineering to convert raw materials into safe, nutritious and palatable food products. The booming field addresses food safety and innovations, as well as sustainability, for which trained food technologists are gaining more prominence. Most of the courses in India are taught in English (with supporting materials in Hindi), making them accessible to a wider platform of learners. In this article, you will find the best courses available in Food Technology and Food Science courses after 12th, so that you can pick what suits your interests and career goals.

List of Top Food Technology Degree Courses After 12th Offered in India

In this section, we discuss all the degree courses related to Food Technology after 12th which are offered by reputed institutes across India. 

B.Tech in Food Technology

B.Tech in Food Technology is a technology-based engineering degree that has a duration of four years. It emphasises all aspects of food - from production to processing, preservation, packaging, and quality management in food products. 

Some of the core subjects for this course include: 

• Food Chemistry
• Food Microbiology
• Unit Operations in Food Processing
• Food Packaging Technology

All of which would provide the students with skills to design safe, high-quality food items. The graduates usually work in R&D, production engineering, or quality-control roles within the food manufacturing industry.

B.Tech in Food Engineering

Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) in food engineering is a full-time four-year undergraduate program in which the various fundamentals of engineering are applied to solve food-related problems. The main focus of the curriculum is on the optimisation of food resource usage, reduction in food spoilage, retention of nutrition, and ingestion safety.

Graduates can take up jobs as technical brewers, scientific lab technicians, quality managers, or food technologists in industries ranging from food and beverages, dairy, bakeries, to packaging and processing plants. This program prepares students for roles in manufacturing, R&D, and quality systems in the food industry.

The usual subjects are food microbiology, food biochemistry, food processing, food packaging technology, dairy plant engineering, fermentation technology, hazard analysis, and waste management. Computer skills and bakery/confectionery technology are also included in the program.

Bachelor's in Diet and Nutrition

The three-year course in Diet and Nutrition transmits to the students an in-depth understanding of the domains of Clinical Nutrition, Food Science and Technology, Sports Nutrition, and Public Health Nutrition. The students should be able to employ theoretical concepts in laboratory settings using standard methods in that area by the time they graduate. They should also be aware of the practical applications of nutritional sciences for dietary management in clinical nutrition, public nutrition, and sports nutrition. 

Finally, students will learn the skills required to conduct systematic research in Diet and Nutrition through the research project component of the program. Therefore, this program is designed to blend practical knowledge and scientific knowledge so that students may flourish as professional members of the health and hospitality sectors. It imparts the necessary technical knowledge, skills, and mindset for a successful career in health.

B.Sc in Food Science and Technology

The emphasis of this three-year Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science (or Food Science & Technology) is laid upon the biological, chemical, and physical properties of food. Its syllabus deals with Food Analysis, Nutrition, Food Safety and Quality Management, Food Chemistry, and Microbiology. Students learn to test and then elevate the nutritional content and safety of foods. The career paths for B.Sc graduates include research, nutritional consultancy, and quality assurance in food labs and companies.

B.Sc in Food Science and Nutrition

A B.Sc in Food Science and Nutrition (Hons) is a three-year undergraduate program (sometimes four years for honours) designed to explore food production, nutrition, and safety using scientific and technological approaches. This programme is geared towards a broader understanding of both theory and lab application.

Core subjects generally include food technology, biomolecules, food chemistry, and basic principles of food hygiene and preservation. Further courses in a typical curriculum include communicative English, environmental management, lab work in food technology, and some techniques of life sciences.

Students develop skills that aim at food safety, quality control, nutrition, and food product development. After excellent preparation in theory and practice, graduates are well-suited for such work in laboratories, food companies, regulatory bodies, or even for the academic and research track at higher levels.

Which are Some of the Best Short-Term Food Technology Courses Students After 12th Can Opt For?

The availability of short-term food technology courses for skills-based training and specialisation is offered along with full degree programs. These programs are perfect for students or professionals who want to attain an important practical skill without committing to a longer term. Short-term programs can be diplomas or certificates that vary in length, for example, 1-2 years for diplomas or a few weeks up to one year for certificates in specific food tech and safety-related topics. Institutes of technology and online platforms such as FICSI, for instance, offer self-paced or in-person courses covering food processing technology, food safety systems, and management.

These short-term food science courses after 12th specialise in training skills for new contracts. There are indeed "many online food management courses offered by the FICSI training portal. These are really helpful for professionals and students in the industry to augment their knowledge of food technology." Being skill-based, such programs can make graduates very quickly available for technician positions in food plants, quality-testing labs, or managerial support functions for the food industry.

Listed below are some of the popular short-term food technology courses. 

• Diploma in Food Technology/Food Processing (1-2 years): The course includes primary information on food protection, processing techniques and quality control.
• Diploma in Dairy Technology (1-2 years): These courses focus on milk processing, dairy product manufacturing and quality assurance of dairy products.
• Certificate in Food Safety and Quality Management (6 months - 1 year): This course is related to food safety rules, food facilities for HACCP and ISO standards.
• Certificates/Workshops in Bakery and Confectionery: Baking, pastry-making, jam and jelly-making and training on hands for other related products.
• Online FSMS (Food Safety) Courses: Includes low-cost online modules, typically one or two months, which discuss food safety management systems, traceability and relevant topics.

What are the Eligibility Requirements for Food Technology Courses?

To earn a bachelor's degree in food technology or food science after 12th, students are expected to complete 10+2 with a science background. Specific eligibility for food technology courses is 10+2 Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics or Biology (PCM/PCB) with a minimum 50 per cent total marks from a recognised board. Some diploma/certificate programs require only a 10th pass, but for degree programs, the requirement is 10+2 in science.

Admission Process of Food Technology Courses After 12th

It's common knowledge that to get admission into a B.Tech program, one should take an engineering exam, whether it's an all-India exam such as JEE Main or state-level competitive exams like MHT-CET (Maharashtra) or KCET (Karnataka), to name just a few. Their scores allow aspirants to enter colleges where B. Tech in Food Technology or B. Tech in Food Engineering is offered. 

Several B.Sc (Food Science/Food Technology) programs usually admit students through merit, which is simply measured through a percentage of 12th-grade marks, but a few universities may conduct their own entrance tests. Neither a diploma nor short-term food tech courses require an entrance examination score for admission. Admission occurs either through merit (of qualifying exam marks) or seat availability, and sometimes a combination of both. 

Applicants can learn about the criteria and cut-off requirements in the college admission criteria (specific to each college).

Career Opportunities After Completing a Food Technology Course After 12th

The careers that the graduates in food technology find have a wider range in the rapidly growing food sector of India. Job roles are:

• Food Technologist: New food products or bring improvements to existing formulations. Studying and applying principles of the science of nutrition, washing, flavour, and shelf life are what the food technologist does.
• Quality Assurance Manager: The one responsible for monitoring the processes through which food production is done and checking whether all safety and quality standards are being followed. A manager taking care of QA is also known as the one implementing a quality control system and auditing compliance.
• Food Inspector/Food Safety Officer: Works with government agencies or regulatory authorities for inspecting food production and handling plants, with competencies about hygiene and other measures for safety (example: under FSSAI).
• Food Microbiologist: Study microorganisms in food that would prevent spoilage and contamination. Experiment designing and the associated testing protocols to prove safe food (overlapping roles with R&D labs).
• Research & Development Scientist: Research on the methods of food processing, ingredients, or packaging. R&D designs new products (functional foods, additives, etc.) and process efficiencies.
• Product Development Executive: Designs and tests new food products based on market trends and consumer needs. They bridge the gap between laboratory research and commercial production.

Which Sectors Hire Food Technology Graduates in India?

Some of the key sectors where the professionals are hired include food processing and manufacturing companies, dairy and beverage industries, and specialised research institutes for food. Many of these graduates initially land jobs with large companies dealing in FMCG or food, preferably in research and development or quality departments (e.g. Nestlé, Amul, ITC, Britannia). Others choose to work for government regulatory bodies (FSSAI, agricultural ministries) that are concerned with food safety and policies. 

The companies involved in packaging, such as Tetra Pak and Uflex, also employ food technologists to create shelf-stable but environmentally friendly packaging. New opportunities will also continue to arise in production, quality control, R&D, and allied areas because of India's constantly expanding food industry and consumer demand for healthy and safer foods.

Conclusion

After the 12th grade, several options are available to students keen on taking up courses in food science and technology. A 4-year B.Tech or a 3-year B.Sc degree integrates science with engineering to groom a graduate with diversified opportunities. Short-term diplomas and certificate courses can help students gain specific skills or ease into the job market very quickly. 

The food technology world is viewed as stable and dynamic. It is an immensely important section of India’s economy, with innovation in health foods, sustainability, and safety escalating. Experts say food technology professionals are “increasingly in demand” with “a very bright future” for food science and technology. 

Students ought to weigh their interests (chemistry, microbiology, engineering, etc.) as well as career objectives (R&D, quality management, etc.) while selecting among food technology courses after 12th. If they make the right choice, food technology could hence be a career full of growth avenues and satisfaction to ensure the food supply of the world is safe and nutritious.

FAQs

What is the major difference between the courses in food science and food technology after the 12th?

Both are related, but food science courses after the 12th have more to do with understanding the basic scientific principles, like the what and why behind the physical characteristics of food, which are chemistry, biology, and nutrition. A food technology course, however, tends to stress the how part, like the practical use of principles to process, preserve, package, and commercialise food. A Food Scientist would be more like a researcher, while a Food Technologist is someone who applies that research.

If I didn't have mathematics in 12th, what are the necessary criteria for taking food technology?

The requirements for food technology courses are usually a 10+2 qualification in science. Generally, all B. Tech courses require PCM (Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics). PCB students may pursue a B.Sc. in Food Science or Food Processing, as institutions generally suppose the core subject is biology and not math.

Is it possible to secure a job after taking a short-term food technology course?

Yes, a short-term food technology program can help you find an entry-level position in food processing and food quality control areas. These types of certification and diplomas are preferred by employers. They are more specific and skill-oriented programs focused on skills such as food safety management (HACCP), quality assurance, or specific processing techniques. It is an avenue through which specialised knowledge and practical skills can be acquired rather quickly.

Are food technology and food science courses promising in terms of career prospects in the government sector?

Yes, food technology graduates after the 12th grade, as well as food science graduates, have a variety of good career opportunities in the government sector. These include extremely important occupations such as Food Inspector, Food Safety Officer, and a host of jobs in the different wings of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), if not more.