NUT2003 : Food Science and Technology
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Dr Matt Knight
- Other Staff: Dr Helen Mason
- Owning School: Biomedical, Nutritional and Sports Scien
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
This module will provide students with an introduction to selected areas of food science including food chemistry and the range of technologies used in the food industry for food manufacture from raw material preparation to packaging & storage. It will also develop practical skills in methods used for food processing and food characterisation.
Outline Of Syllabus
1. Nutritional role of food
2. Physiology of olfaction and gustation, sensory testing
3. Constituent substances of foods in relation to their role in food quality: Carbohydrates, proteins & fats; aromas, flavour and colour compounds
4. Chemical physics of food: chemical bonds, water activity (colligative properties), sols & gels, nutrient losses, denaturation, oxidation, Maillard reaction.
5. Examples of methods for processing and cooking, and corresponding changes which occur in foods; chemical interactions, hydrolysis, changes in texture, use of micro-organisms.
6. Objective of processing; preservation (food safety), retention, improvement of nutritional value. Processes; thermal processing (including pasteurisation & blanching) drying; freezing; canning; pickling, packaging.
7. Food labelling including nutrition labelling and health claims.
8. Additives: emulsifiers, curing, antioxidants, flavourings.
9. Food safety: Hygiene, Hazard Analysis by Critical Control Points (HACCP)
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 8 | 1:00 | 8:00 | Non-synchronous online lectures/seminars to deliver additional foundation learning material. |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 14 | 1:00 | 14:00 | PIP lectures to deliver foundation learning material |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 24:00 | 24:00 | Preparation for practicals and writing the structured abstract of the outcome. |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 24 | 0:30 | 12:00 | Revision for examination |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | Completion of examination |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Practical | 4 | 3:00 | 12:00 | PIP - Lab based practical sessions |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 6 | 1:00 | 6:00 | PIP tutorials in groups before, during & after practicals, preparation of group learning log. |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 6 | 1:00 | 6:00 | Sync online tutorials, Q&A follow up, and sessions supporting exam revision |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 24 | 1:00 | 24:00 | Lecture follow-up, compilation of notes |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 42:00 | 42:00 | Reading on module topics beyond the taught material |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 50:00 | 50:00 | Directed reading around the subject area |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The module uses lecture materials to deliver key information relevant to the subject and to provide information upon which the students can extend their learning by private study. The practical allows the students to test and implement the information provided in the lectures in a collaborative context, and to develop and demonstrate practical food quality testing skills, as well as appropriate calculations and presentation of the results in a structured abstract.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Examination | 120 | 2 | A | 70 | Online open-book invigilated on-campus exam using Inspera. 3 essay questions. |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practical/lab report | 2 | M | 30 | A structured abstract (500 words plus 1 figure/table) based on practical group learning log. |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
1. The formal examination tests the students' knowledge and understanding of food science and technology. The essay questions additionally test their ability to express ideas in essay form and to select and combine different aspects of food science and technology that are required in a given context.
2. The practical group learning log and individual abstract test the students' ability to design and carry out a practical task to address a food science related issue in a collaborative context, and record relevant data, calculate relevant outcomes from experimental data and present them coherently in a structured abstract.
MDiet candidates must obtain an overall mark of 40 or above to pass the module, however, if the module has more than one assessment students must also achieve a mark of at least 35 in each component of the assessment to pass the module.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- NUT2003's Timetable