There are many steps between the idea of a food product, and what is sold on grocery store shelves and in restaurants. Quality control professionals play a major role in this process to make sure food is good and safe, but many argue that the consumer is the ultimate decision maker as to whether a food product fails or succeeds. How do food developers make products that consumers will say yes to? One of the important steps in food development is sensory evaluations. Keep reading to find out more about this area of food quality control! Food Sensory Evaluation and.. READ MORE »
If you enjoy working with people and have an interest in activities that promote health, a career in sport and nutrition may be right for you. Whether you want to work in fitness, become a health coach, or pursue opportunities in healthcare, it will be useful to have an understanding of the types of exercise and nutrition that support pregnancy. During pregnancy, parents will likely experience a range of emotions, and feel both excited and nervous throughout. As a sport and nutrition professional, you can help. What kinds of questions might come up and how should you answer them? Keep.. READ MORE »
In 2019, Food Allergy Canada launched the National Food Allergy Action Plan. This initiative is aimed at guiding policies that will improve quality of life for Canadians with food allergies. The current available estimate is that 1 in 13 Canadians self-report having an allergy, which amounts to approximately 2.5 million people who would benefit from such policies. How are these allergies dealt with in Canada? Canada has what are called “priority food allergens”. These refer to the list of foods associated with 90 percent of allergic reactions and there are labelling requirements for them. While many allergies may be familiar.. READ MORE »
The responsibility to protect consumers from foodborne illness, commonly referred to as food poisoning, belongs to all three levels of government. The average spending on food safety by the provincial Ontario government and municipalities, along with the Federal government, is approximately $105.7 million each year. If you are interested in science and understanding how food makes it onto grocery store shelves or restaurants, a career in food technology might be right for you. Why might this be a good time to train for a career in the food industry? Earlier this year, the Canadian Agricultural Partnership was announced, and the.. READ MORE »
The food industry and Canada’s food safety regulators are responsible for making sure food is safe. However, approximately 4 million illnesses occur each year from food-borne pathogens in Canada. One reporter also noted that many food-borne illnesses go unreported, suggesting that a higher estimate could be made. A study was released by the University of Guelph in 2019 and its researchers think one way to reduce these illnesses is through cookbooks. Why? They say cookbooks could be a form of risk communication for consumers if authors worked with food safety professionals. Whether or not that will happen remains to be.. READ MORE »
Fortification or enrichment of foods involves either adding vitamins and minerals to food products, or replacing micronutrients that are lost when the food is processed. Fortification isn’t just a choice made by companies. In Canada there are laws that set requirements around fortification of certain foods. For example, vitamin C must be added to vegetable drinks and vitamins A and D are mandatory in margarine. Many nutrients are also designated as “voluntary”, or optional, for example those added to breakfast cereals. These voluntary nutrients include: Thiamine Niacin Vitamin B6 Folic acid Pantothenic acid Magnesium Iron Zinc These nutrients serve to.. READ MORE »
In foods where there are sufficient nutrients and favourable conditions for growth, microorganisms can thrive. The most important of these microorganisms to consider is bacteria, since while they are often harmless or beneficial, they can be very dangerous. Yeasts, molds, and viruses are other microorganisms that can exist in food and cause safety threats. In your career, you will need to be aware of factors creating the ideal environment for these tiny life forms to grow, so that you can mitigate risks. Read on to learn more about which factors affect this, how you can keep food safer by monitoring.. READ MORE »
Unlike parasites or other infections, food intoxication happens when ingested food contains toxins that make consumers sick. Proper food preparation and processing is very important, to be sure to minimize or avoid: Unfavourable chemical reactions Contamination Harmful chemicals Sometimes foodborne infection can be confused with intoxication. The difference lies in that infection is caused by the actual bacteria once it is in the intestines, while intoxication comes from toxins (often created by bacteria), meaning that the physical organisms are not what make people sick. Read on for more information about food intoxication and how it occurs. Know How Food Intoxication.. READ MORE »
The “kill-step” in food manufacturing is the point at which dangerous pathogens are removed from the product. This is often done by killing the pathogens. It is one of the most important steps in keeping food safe. Outbreak prevention is a priority in the food industry and must be taken seriously and optimized. Since bacteria ends up on almost every food ingredient, it must be managed and prevented from reaching harmful levels in the food consumed by the public. Some kill-step processes include: Cooking Pasteurization Chemicals Freezing Read on to learn why this step is so necessary for food safety.. READ MORE »
Curious about the ugly produce trend, and its effects on the industry and environment? Read on to find out more about this fascinating way to reduce food waste.
