FB2PQA: Food Processing and Quality Assurance

Module code: FB2PQA

Module provider: Food and Nutritional Sciences; School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Atefeh Amiri Rigi, email: a.amiririgi@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Dr Nikos Mavroudis, email: n.mavroudis@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 27 June 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

In this module you will learn about the industrial manufacture of foods including theoretical and practical consideration of key operations and processes used by the food industry; and the effect of these operations on food product properties. You will also be introduced to the quality management and legislative control systems in place to ensure food safety, quality and consumer health protection. You will we working in the Food Processing Centre as part of the practical sessions, which offer you the opportunity to work with pilot plant equipment in a real-life working environment.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Explain the principles of key food processing operations and quantitatively evaluate and critically discuss the performance and efficiency of processing equipment.
2. Carry out small-scale food processing operations and associated laboratory-based test methods to evaluate and describe how the unit operations effect on the quality and quantity of the process outcomes.
3. Explain the general structure of a Quality Management System used by the food industry to maintain food quality and the expectations from both manufacturer and consumer.
4. Describe and interpret the major elements of legislation and standards relevant to national and international food control.

Module content

• Material and Energy balance
• Thermal processing
• Dehydration
• Evaporation
• Refrigeration
• Separation and membrane processing
• Packaging
• Separation and membrane processing
• General Quality Management systems for food quality
• Quality control and Quality Assurance
• Essential quality documents
• 3rd Party accredited Quality Standards used by Food Industry Legislation and National Control Systems used to regulate food quality and safety.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

• Guided online learning through screencast, scientific publications, interpretation of international accredited quality systems, etc. will be used to develop independent learning skills, to introduce the main core concepts of the module and better prepare students for complementary interaction sessions in person.
• Interactive sessions in the form of lectures and seminars will be used to explain in more detail, discuss, and put into context (real-life case studies/mathematical problems) some of the most important concepts covered and knowledge acquired.
• Practical sessions in the pilot plant will allow students to develop hands on expertise in the use of pilot plant analytical equipment commonly used in food manufacturing.
• Workshops sessions will be delivered to discuss the interlink between the food processing practical sessions and the quality standards (specifications, etc).
• Independent learning skills will be developed through engaging with published research from the TALIS reading list and beyond, etc.

Study hours

At least 40 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Formative feedback sessions on the two assessment tasks are scheduled for student to discuss their progress in the reports and get oral feedback.

In workshop sessions students will discuss and debate on real-world case studies and role-play activities. Oral feedback will be given to students during their performance in these workshops.

Seminars will also provide students with opportunities for feedback through Q&A sessions, discussions and problem-solving activities.  

Reassessment

Additional costs