FB3AQS: Advanced Food Quality and Safety

Module code: FB3AQS

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

Credits: 20

Level: Level 3 (Honours)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Mrs Justine Norris, email: j.f.norris@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: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 21 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module you will advance your knowledge on elements of Food Quality Management System and how it is structured to ensure Food Safety and Quality within manufacturing. This includes the practical application of appropriate legislation including statistical methods to meet legal and quality compliance, HACCP, Traceability and Product recall. It also covers general aspects of Food defence – VACCP & TACCP.

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Practically apply quality and food safety systems knowledge to devise a HACCP plan and prepare for an internal system audit
2. Describe what is a risk and what are the methods used in Food Defence
3. Explain the key elements required by a Food Quality Management system and the differences between third party accredited schemes
4. Interpret and apply the legislation required to produce safe, quality food

Module content

• Food Quality systems structure focus on audits, traceability and withdrawal
• Food Safety system – HACCP
• Food Defence - TACCP & VACCP system introduction
• Practical application of Food law and Due Diligence
• 3rd party accredited Quality systems – BRCGS, ISO22000
• Statistical methods for Quality control and legal compliance

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.
• Workshops sessions will provide an opportunity to students to learn by creating and interpreting specific documentation to comply with quality and legal standards in the food industry.
• Independent learning skills will be developed through engaging with published research from the TALIS reading list and beyond, interpretation of international accredited quality systems and regulations, 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.

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