What is Food Science?
Ever wondered why cutting onions make you cry? Or why you mix the dry ingredients before the wet ingredients? This is all food science!
Food science aims to understand food from a scientific perspective. Food science involves the study of all the processes related to food storage, packaging, preparation, and consumption.
Physics, Chemistry & (Micro)Biology of Food
In school you’re taught the main sciences of physics, chemistry, and biology. All of these sciences are used in food science!
Food physics, looking into the physical properties of food
Food chemistry, studying the molecules in food and how they react
Food (micro)biology, focusing on the microorganisms in our food
In comparison, the field of study is based more on chemistry and physics rather than biology. Food scienctists focus on the chemistry and macroscopic makeup of the food, while nutritionists focus on the biological impact of the food on human bodies.
Food Technology
You will often find study programs being called ‘Food Science & Technology.’ Food technology is closely linked to food science. Food science studies the food itself, whereas food technology focusses on the processing and manufacturing required to make the foods.
