Food processing

Food processing is the conversion of raw bulk ingredients (agricultural products) into food for human consumption, or the transformation of one form of food into another form.

What are processed foods?

What comes to mind when you think of processed foods? You’re right if you think of items such as snack chips, cookies, and soft drinks.

But you might be surprised to learn that most foods we eat are processed.

Processing food definition = Food processing is any deliberate change in a food that occurs before it’s available for human consumption.

It can be as simple as drying or freezing food to preserve nutrients and freshness, or as complex as formulating a frozen meal with the right balance of ingredients and nutrients.

A few examples of processed foods include:

Frozen and canned fruits and vegetables
Packaged foods labeled “natural” or “organic,” such as cereals, fresh meat, and poultry, and jarred baby foods
Foods with health and nutrition claims on the label, such as “may reduce the risk of heart disease,” “low in fat” or “high in calcium”
Foods strengthened with nutrients such as fiber, vitamin D or omega-3 fatty acids
Foods prepared in restaurants, cafeterias, sports arenas, and other locations

Food processing stages

Primary food processing

Primary processing is the conversion of raw materials to food commodities. Milling is an example of primary processing.

Secondary food processing

Secondary processing is the conversion of ingredients into edible products – this involves combining foods in a particular way to change properties. Baking bread is an example of secondary processing.

Tertiary food processing

Tertiary food processing is the production of prepared convenience foods, such as canned soup, or frozen dinners.

Food processing industry

The food processing industry is a large segment of the overall food industry and has been growing fast in recent years.

The growth of food processing industries is supported by the availability of a large raw material base.

These raw bulk materials like grain, sugar, flour, wheat, corn, dairy products, spices, and starch are stored in bulk quantities and then divided into smaller batches to be incorporated into the production process.

Food processing made for human consumption has a plenitude of regulations, as well as, strict requirements with regards to reconciliation and accountability.

Food processing market

The food processing market is an important global market that has been growing fast in recent years because of rising demand for food in emerging markets, changes in consumer habits, and a big leap forward in technological capabilities.

Food processing market size

The global food processing market size is driven by the growing demand for processed and ready-to-eat food products, the trend of industrial automation, and by strict government regulations regarding standardization and hygiene.

Issues associated with food processing

Important issues associated with the food processing industry are food safety, cross-contamination, hygiene, and dust explosivity.

Food processing safety is crucial as it helps to protect consumers from the risk of foodborne illnesses, and it helps to prevent consumers from risks of health-related conditions.

A wide range of process instruments and processing equipment are used in the food processing industry.

From the impact of advanced process automation and artificial intelligence to the growing demand for organics, the food processing industry is undergoing a period of fundamental change.

Food processing companies

Food processing companies are companies that manufacture, package or store food for human consumption.

A food producing company sells its products through a grocer or wholesaler to households, restaurants or institutional food services. Food processing companies are responsible for making sure their products are safe for consumption.

Companies active in industrial food processing mainly process dairy products, preserved fruits and vegetables, grain mill products, pet foods, bakery products, confectionery products, fats and oils, and more.

The food manufacturing process can be organized in unit operations, such as:

These operations are controlled to maintain consistent product quality, safeguard staff health, food safety standards and to avoid problems that may stop the production line running, which would result in ‘downtime’.

Food processing equipment

A wide range of machinery, equipment, and instrumentation is used in the industrial food processing industry.

In the food industry, food must be processed and packaged hygienically, attractively and efficiently. Every project is based on the technological, technical and financial wishes of the client.

Generally, equipment used in food processing applications serves one of the following purposes: measurement, transportation, storage, processing, or thermal treatment.

Measurement devices include scales and weighing systems, level monitoring systems, moisture measurement systems, flow meters, thermometers, particle analyzers other precision process control components.

These instruments are used to analyze machines and ingredients, and to allow manufacturers to perform and duplicate processing procedures without any complications.

They are also used to monitor existing systems and machinery, whether to log data during product testing or to quantify typical performance statistics.

Measurement devices are particularly important during food manufacture, as minor changes can lead to drastic changes in the finished product.

Examples of food processing manufacturers / engineers of food processing equipment / food manufacturing equipment are: ACS Valves, AZO, BEUMER Group, BinMaster Level Controls, Coperion K-Tron, Dec Group, Dinnissen Process Technology, Eastern Instruments, ENVEA – SWR engineering Messtechnik GmbH, Flexicon Corporation, General Kinematics, Great Western Manufacturing, Hense Wägetechnik GmbH, IEP Technologies, Jenike & Johanson, Klinkenberg Zaanstad BV, MAGNATTACK™ Global, MIX srl, MoistTech Corp, Progressive Products, Inc, Gericke RotaVal, REMBE®, Rotolok Group, SPEC Engineering, Stedman Machine Company, SAMSON Materials Handling, Schenck Process Group, Spiroflow Ltd, VAC-U-MAX, Vortex Global, WAMGROUP S.p.A.

Used food processing equipment

Used food processing equipment can be a valuable cost and time-saving alternative.

Used equipment is offered at a fraction of the cost of new equipment and is normally shipped immediately.

Multiple pieces of equipment, even an entire process line, can be obtained from a single source.

This can reduce start-up and troubleshooting efforts, as well as shipping costs.

While many pitfalls exist for the used process equipment buyer, the advantages can be worthwhile.

Factors to consider before purchasing used food processing equipment are:

What was the equipment used for?

Prior uses of equipment can introduce risk because residue may be left in the equipment. In general, avoid equipment that was previously used for non-food purposes, especially if it is going to be a direct food contact surface

What is the equipment made of?

Processing equipment that may be in contact with food should be made of corrosion-resistant, non-toxic, odorless, nonabsorbent and easy-to-clean materials and should comply with the national mandatory standards.

Dinnissen Process Technology - Hygienic Lump Breaker

Can you take the equipment apart relatively easily?

All food processing equipment should be able to be fully broken down for cleaning purposes.

In the absence of taking the equipment apart, all equipment in use should be accessible to cleaning, sanitation, maintenance, and routine inspection without having to deconstruct it.

Food processing software

In an economy with rising production costs, new and more regulations and changing safety standards, food processors are having an even tougher time remaining profitable.

By focusing on controlling and monitoring costs related to food processing and storage, food manufacturing and processing companies can make measurable improvements in their business.

Food processing software provides the functionality and value needed to improve its operational efficiency.

Food processing software offers the following benefits:

Traceability
Reduced materials consumption, and therefore less waste
Improved decision-making
Measurement of key performance indicators
Greater visibility of operational performance
Consistently deliver reliable food products
Keep up with the latest food safety standards

Food processing news

The food manufacturing industry is driven by the response to both customer and consumer trends and needs.

The food processing industry is a large segment of the overall food industry, from farming and food production, packaging and distribution, to retail and catering.

It is challenging to find a source that covers all aspects of processing bulk dry foods and food manufacturing.

From product supervisors to plant and project engineers, they all need to keep up to date with the latest food processing news.

Having access to news on breakthrough technologies in food processing, food processing innovations, general food industry news and events is crucial for any food industry professional.