Food Processing
How food is preserved and processed
Why We Process Food
Food processing changes raw food into products that last longer or taste better. Without processing, many foods would spoil quickly. Methods include drying, canning, freezing, smoking and adding preservatives.
Example
Food Processing Examples in SA
• Milk → pasteurised → cheese or yoghurt
• Fruit → dried in the sun → dried fruit (raisins, mango)
• Maize → milled → mealie meal
• Meat → salted and dried → biltong
• Tomatoes → cooked and sealed → tinned tomatoes
Note
Remember
Processing helps food last longer (preservation). Always check food labels for expiry dates, ingredients and nutritional information. Some processed foods have too much sugar, salt or fat — fresh foods are often healthier.
Key Vocabulary
PreservationKeeping food safe to eat for a longer time
PasteurisationHeating liquid (like milk) to kill harmful germs
Expiry dateThe date after which food should not be eaten
IngredientOne of the items used to make a food product
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Preservation
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