Food development courses: everything you need to know
By studying a food development course, students will be able to gain the knowledge and experience they need for a successful career within the food and beverage industry’s development sector.
Through an extensive understanding of core principles of food development, such as food science, production, and marketing, students will be able to jump into a career within this sector.
This guide provides an essential overview of food development courses in the UK and what they could involve.
What can you expect from food development courses in the UK?
During their time on a food development course, students will learn in detail about the various facets of food and production. This includes its composition, processing, safety, and sensory attributes.
These courses combine theoretical learning with practical laboratory work, giving students hands-on experience in food product development.
BSc (Hons) Food Development and Innovation
This undergraduate food development course enables students to focus on the design and development of new and innovative food products.
During their time on this course, students will discover the technical and business aspects behind the development of brand-new food products. This includes understanding the steps involved in concept generation, product formulation, production, and marketing.
Typical modules include:
- Sustainable food systems
- Cell biology and genetics
- Contextualising you and your profession
- Biochemistry
- Food, lifestyle and society
- Introduction to food science
- From ingredient to manufacture
- Food processing
- Applied microbiology
- Evidence-based practice
- Nutrition
- Food product development
- Food industry placement
- Current issues in the food industry
- Food product characterisation
- Food safety in the 21st century
- Innovations in food packaging
BSc (Hons) Food Science and Technology
This BSc (Hons) food development course gives a comprehensive overview of the research and development which goes into food science and technology. It enables students to gain a thorough understanding of the fundamentals of food science and the theories behind current quality control practices.
As they study this course, students will focus on the development of safe, nutritious, and appealing food products whilst broadening their knowledge of current processing techniques and product innovation.
Typical modules include:
- Food chemistry
- Food commodities
- Food process engineering
- Food quality assurance, HACCP and hygiene
- Food raw materials
- Managing self and others in food organisations
- Project management and management of change
- Food law, ethics and corporate social responsibility
- Food preservation
- Foundation project case study
- Nutrition, health and diet
- Packaging systems
- Policy and market dynamics
- Product development
- Food analysis
- Food defence and sustainability
- Meat, seafood and dairy technologies
- Technical management
- Cereal, fresh produce and beverages technologies
BSc (Hons) Food and Nutrition
Offering students the chance to enhance their understanding of the relationship between food and human health, this food development course looks at how nutritious and innovative food products are made. It also covers the current industry practices which go into their development.
The course delves into the nutritional properties of food products, exploring the impact food processing techniques have on the nutrient profile of different foods, and what can be done to preserve the nutritional value of said products.
Students will also learn about the role nutrition plays in human health when it comes to combating disease and managing a healthy lifestyle.
Typical modules include:
- Human physiology & anatomy
- Chemistry and pharmacology
- Fundamentals of nutrition science
- Medical cell biology
- Food choice and consumer behaviour
- Microbiology
- Food science
- Epidemiology and statistics
- Assessment of nutritional status
- Nutrition through the lifecycle
- Clinical biochemistry
- Food product development
- Food safety management
MSc Food Science and Engineering
This is a specialised postgraduate food development programme which equips students with an advanced understanding of the scientific and engineering aspects of the development of innovative and sustainable food products.
During their time on this food development course, students will learn about the advanced principles of food chemistry, microbiology, and process engineering, and how this knowledge is applied in the daily manufacture of safe and high-quality food products.
Typical modules include:
- Advanced rheology and materials
- Food processing
- Accelerated design training
- Multiphase systems
MSc Food Technology and Quality Assurance
Offering the opportunity to develop an advanced knowledge and understanding of food technology and critical food quality assurance techniques, this food development course enables students to gain a broadened comprehension of advanced food processing technologies, and learn how to apply industry-standard food legislation and ethics in the workplace.
From the development and implementation of quality management systems in the food industry to the evaluation of food safety risks to ensure compliance with relevant legislation, this course also prepares students with the knowledge and skills they require to succeed within leadership roles in the food industry.
Typical modules include:
- Food control management
- Food product reformulation
- Food composition and quality
- Risk analysis in the food chain
- Applied food quality and safety
- Microbes, food safety and health
- Sustainable food manufacturing and process design
MSc Food Innovation
This specialist postgraduate programme enables learners to focus on the development of innovative food products – specifically the industrial processes which encompass the development of new products.
During their time on this food development programme, students will broaden their understanding of the current trends and challenges which are currently affecting the wider food and beverage industry – learning how to apply the principles of food science and technology to solve these challenges during the development of new and innovative products.
Typical modules include:
- Food product and process development
- Marketing, innovation and management
- Food authenticity and traceability
- Food microbiology
- Food, nutrition and public health
- Innovations in food packaging
MSc Food Science and Product Development
This postgraduate programme offers advanced training in the scientific, technical, and business aspects of new food product development, enabling students to develop their understanding of the legislation and practices which underpin food product development – such as the importance of ensuring consumer safety.
Students will learn how to develop new food products which meet not only the needs of the consumer but tackle key challenges and trends in the market. They will also discover how to ensure food quality and safety throughout the development process via a thorough understanding of food laws, ethics, and legal requirements.
Typical modules include:
- Factory design and operations for food production
- Technologies of food manufacture
- Quality management and quality techniques for industry
- Supply chain planning and management
MSc Food Quality and Innovation
This is a postgraduate food development course which focuses on the design and development of high quality, innovative, and safe food products.
During their time in this course, learners will discover how to evaluate and improve the food quality of existing food products, the techniques and processes which underpin the development of new food products, and how innovative processing techniques are implemented within the industry.
Typical modules include:
- Microbiological and chemical food safety
- Food processing
- Nutrient & food biochemical structure and function
- Food analysis
- Food product development
- Sensory science
- Food quality assurance and control
MSc Sustainable Food Quality for Health
This innovative postgraduate food development course offers students the opportunity to specialise in the development of sustainable and nutritious food products which not only have a minimal impact on the environment but can promote good health.
During their time on this specialist course, learners will broaden their understanding of the practices and knowledge behind the production of sustainable food products. They will also learn about the importance of nutritional quality and the diet’s role in managing health and preventing disease.
Typical modules include:
- Sustainable practices in food production
- Nutrition, food and the consumer
- Managing risk and food safety
- Food structure for health and quality
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