How My Thoughts on the Food Industry Have Changed

I have always known that food is very important and that a lot goes into food, but this semester really opened my eyes to the true abundancy of the food industry. The work, money, and time that goes into actually cultivating and producing the food ingredients that it takes to produce the world’s food is out the roof, and it takes a special group of people to take on the task of feeding the world. The next thing that really blew my mind is how huge of an industry there is that makes their main goal is to get rid of or prevent foodborne illnesses, whether that be naturally or through biotechnology. I knew that foodborne illnesses were a big deal and that nobody would ever want to get one, but I had originally thought that most of that could be prevented in the kitchen. When, in fact, there are people working to help prevent them before the product is even grown or produced. Of course, I was amazed at all of the things that go into actually processing the food. I knew that foods were freeze dried or pasteurized, but I never knew how many unit operations it actually takes to satisfy the needs and demands of customers and consumers throughout the world. I can now go into a grocery store and know most, if not all, of the processes that the food I am buying has went through. I also know most of the precautions I need to take to keep my food safe once it is in my own hands. This class has definitely made me realize that those who do take on the task to feed the world, definitely have their hands full and must continue to better the technology and processes to complete the task. I have become more interested in the food industry and food safety, especially in my own kitchen, thanks to this class.