Food Industry (Meaning and Explanation)

We explain what the food industry is, its basic processes, sectors, global importance and other characteristics.

What is the food industry?

The food industry It is the productive sector that is in charge of all the processes of the food chain of society.

It covers the stages of production, selection, processing, transportation and sale of food from a very varied agricultural supply. Its products go through a set of transformation processes that culminate with their consumption by the public.

The food industry Its purpose is to satisfy the food needs of the population (and their domestic animals), through the preparation of various food products, both processed and semi-processed, from raw materials of animal origin, such as meat, dairy products, eggs, fish and honey, or of plant origin.

To achieve its objective, it tries to provide its food with the highest possible state of conservation (freezing, adding preservatives, pre-cooking, etc.), on its journey from the factory to your table.

More than any other, the food industry is a fruit of the modern world. In previous times the demand for food was lower and could be satisfied through local or regional production. Today it involves the exchange of consumer goods in a globalized market, in which it is possible to buy food from the other side of the world in the corner supermarket.

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However, this large-scale production model is far from perfect. In recent times, the effect on public health of ultra-processed foods full of chemical additives has been greatly questioned, as well as the ecological effect that the excessive growth of agriculture and livestock causes throughout the world.

Characteristics of the food industry

The food industry is characterized by:

Use inputs of animal and plant origin to produce foods with a greater or lesser degree of technological processing, intended for direct consumption or to supply other food companies.
Cover different more or less automated processes of selection, manufacturing, processing and distribution.
Grow together with him increased demand for food around the world given the population growth experienced by humanity in recent centuries.

Food industry sectors

fishing food industry — The fishing industry obtains its raw materials from the seas.

The food industry is made up of the following sectors:

meat industry Or the processing of red and white meat.
Fishing industry Works with fish, shellfish, marine mollusks, etc.
Cultivation of fruits and vegetables For direct consumption by the public.
Agricultural industry Dedicated to the planting and cultivation of cereals, vegetables and greens.
fungal industry Grow edible mushrooms.
sugar industry It is obtained from different means: sugar cane, beets, etc.
Cocoa industry It makes chocolate in its very diverse presentations.
wine industry Dedicated to the exploitation of vineyards and wine production.
beer industry Dedicated to the production of beers from barley and other cereals.
Water industry He obtains it from springs and bottles it.
Baking industry It is dedicated to the production of breads and other products derived from wheat flour.
Oil industry Obtains plant-based oils for cooking.
dairy industry Works with milk and its derivatives, such as cheese or yogurt.
Animal feed industry Generates food for domestic animals, from dogs and cats to farm animals.
Food technology Focused on discovering methods of food preservation, facility sanitation, nutritional fortification, etc.

Importance of the food industry

The food industry It is fundamental for an expanding and growing humanity like that of the 21st century. More than seven billion human beings in total demand a significant amount of food daily, and this requires the breeding of many animal species, which in turn also consume certain types of food.

This gigantic demand is the niche of food producers, but it is not only an economic investment, it also entails great responsibilities: Food management affects public health and the care that we take in the ways of life we consume has an impact on the incidence of diseases communicable to humans.

These concerns are in vogue in the 21st century, when the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) warns that nutrition It should not be a business and an end in itself but a means to live a fuller and healthier life.

Furthermore, alerts regarding the environmental impact of livestock farming on global warming and the emergence of new infectious diseases of animal origin have brought to light the cruel and mercantilist way in which many of these industries operate, committed solely to performance.

Basic processes of the food industry

food industry conservation — To preserve it, many foods must be refrigerated.

The food industry includes the following basic processes:

Reception of food Coming from the agricultural sector, the food reaches the industry and selection and discarding work takes place there, to guarantee a certain minimum quality control.
Food storage The raw material must then be stored in such a way that it is preserved as best as possible over time, for which it is necessary to control humidity, temperature, etc. Inventories are then made to determine the possible production margins and the raw materials are classified according to their characteristics.
Food processing This stage can be as diverse and different as the processed foods, since each one has its complexity and needs. In this stage, in any case, the transformation of the raw material to obtain processed or semi-processed foods begins: mixing, cooking, etc.
Food preservation In order for the processed products to remain intact until they reach the final consumer, various techniques must be used, which can range from simple refrigeration, to salting, dehydration, pasteurization, sterilization or acidification, or also the addition of preservatives. artificial chemicals.
Food service The final point of the chain, where the establishments deliver the food to their potential consumers. These can be supermarkets or restaurants, and in both cases they must obey hygiene and health techniques.