We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Richard Frazier (Educator),
Emma Bennett,
Anna-Sophie Stübler,
Camila Massri,
and
Milena Zdravkovic
Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is for anyone interested in learning more about the food they eat.
Topics Covered
Read more
Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is for anyone interested in learning more about the food they eat.
Topics Covered
Read more
Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is for anyone interested in learning more about the food they eat.
Topics Covered
- The history of food processing – why it emerged and why it is important
- Examples of the major traditional and more advanced food processing technologies and the products they affect
- Consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of specific food processing technologies, their impact on health, safety, quality and sustainability
- How EU law keeps the consumer safe and healthy and food on the supermarket shelves
Register for this course and see more details by visiting:
OpenCourser.com/course/r01fyd/how
Save this course
Create your own learning path.
Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.
Save
Save
Reviews summary
Understanding processed food: a consumer guide
According to students, this course provides a positive and eye-opening overview of how food is made. Learners appreciate its clear explanations and broad coverage, making complex topics like EU law and food safety accessible. While many find it perfect for a general audience and gain practical knowledge for everyday choices, some reviewers with prior background found the course somewhat superficial, desiring more in-depth scientific rigor, especially on health impacts. The course is considered well-structured and engaging, making it a great starting point for curious minds.
Strong on EU law, food safety, and historical context.
"The content on EU law was particularly insightful and well-explained..."
"I found the modules on food safety very helpful."
"The sections on EU law and consumer safety were particularly strong and made me feel more informed."
"The historical context was fascinating, and the segments on sustainability were timely."
Wide-ranging introduction, ideal for new learners.
"A good introductory course. It covers a lot of ground..."
"For a general audience, it's perfect. Engaging and well-structured."
"Excellent course for general understanding. I highly recommend it for anyone concerned about food literacy."
"Good basic introduction... Overall, decent for beginners."
Content is clearly presented and easy to grasp.
"The instructors did a great job... making complex topics easy to understand."
"The information on different processing technologies was presented clearly with relevant examples."
"The course is well-paced and the instructors explain concepts clearly. It's a great course for curious minds."
"It demystifies processed food. The sections on EU law and consumer safety were particularly strong."
Less in-depth for experts or advanced learners.
"Some parts felt a bit basic if you already have some background in food science..."
"I found this course somewhat superficial... didn't go deep enough for someone looking for professional insights."
"It felt more like a public awareness campaign than a true educational course. Disappointed with the lack of scientific rigor."
"The content on health impacts could have been more robust and evidence-based. It felt a little generalized."
Activities
Coming soon
We're preparing activities for
How is Food Made? Understanding Processed Food.
These are activities you can do either before, during, or after a course.
Career center
Learners who complete How is Food Made? Understanding Processed Food will develop knowledge and skills
that may be useful to these careers:
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/r01fyd/how
Reading list
We haven't picked any books for this reading list yet.
Provides a broad overview of food quality, covering topics such as food chemistry, food microbiology, and food safety. It good choice for students who want to learn more about the basics of food quality.
Save
Provides a detailed overview of food quality and consumer value, covering topics such as consumer behavior, food marketing, and food policy. It good choice for students who want to learn more about the economic and social aspects of food quality.
Provides a practical guide to food safety and quality for the food industry. It covers topics such as HACCP, GMP, and food safety regulations. It good choice for students who want to learn more about the practical aspects of food quality.
Provides a comprehensive overview of food analysis, covering topics such as food chemistry, food microbiology, and food safety. It good choice for students who want to learn more about the theoretical and practical aspects of food analysis.
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of food microbiology, covering topics such as foodborne pathogens, food spoilage, and food safety. It good choice for students who want to learn more about the microbiological aspects of food quality.
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of food packaging, covering topics such as food packaging materials, food packaging design, and food packaging safety. It good choice for students who want to learn more about the technical aspects of food packaging.
Provides a comprehensive overview of food processing, covering topics such as food processing methods, food safety, and food quality. It good choice for students who want to learn more about the practical aspects of food processing.
Provides a comprehensive overview of food chemistry, covering topics such as food composition, food chemistry, and food safety. It good choice for students who want to learn more about the chemical aspects of food quality. The author of this book Nobel laureate.
Provides a comprehensive overview of food chemistry, covering topics such as food composition, food chemistry, and food safety. It good choice for students who want to learn more about the chemical aspects of food quality.
Provides a comprehensive overview of food science and technology, covering topics such as food processing, food safety, and food quality. It good choice for students who want to learn more about the practical aspects of food science and technology.
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of food microbiology, covering topics such as foodborne pathogens, food spoilage, and food safety. It good choice for students who want to learn more about the microbiological aspects of food quality.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/r01fyd/how
Share
Similar courses
Similar courses are unavailable at this time. Please try again later.
Time
12 hours
Via
FutureLearn
Institutions
EIT Food
European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)
DIL
Instructors
Richard Frazier (Educator)
Emma Bennett
Anna-Sophie Stübler
Camila Massri
Milena Zdravkovic
Our mission
OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.
Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.
Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.
Affiliate disclosure
We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.
Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.
Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.
© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser