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Introduction to Food Science

Discover the fascinating world of food science and feel empowered to make safe, healthy, and sustainable food choices.

14,207 enrolled on this course

A scientist looking at different vegetables
  • Duration

    4 weeks
  • Weekly study

    4 hours
  • Accreditation

    AvailableMore info
The CPD Certification Service

This course has been certified by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to continuing professional development principles. Find out more.

Discover topics like food sustainability, integrity, ethics, and constituents

Food and health information is often oversimplified by the media, and recommendations can be inaccurately reported and contradictory to current recommendations.

By understanding and learning more about what’s in our food, we can make smarter, more sustainable, and healthier food choices.

On this course, you’ll access trustworthy information on the food system from food industry experts.

You’ll cover topics like food contaminants, food safety, ethical issues, and food sustainability considerations so that you can become a responsible partner in the food system.

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Skip to 0 minutes and 13 seconds The integrity of food is of increasing concern due to a number of highly-publicised food authenticity and contamination scares. In addition, there is currently 3.5 billion people suffering from malnutrition, whilst the worldwide numbers of overweight and obese people is growing. There is an increasing need for consumers to make smart, sustainable, and healthy food choices. But we can be exposed to oversimplified, contradictory, and inaccurately-recorded information published across a range of media sources making it difficult to make informed food choices.

Skip to 0 minutes and 54 seconds EIT Food in partnership with Queen’s University Belfast, Aarhus University, University of Turin, University of Madrid, and the Spanish National Research Council have designed a free, online course, an introduction to food science, which will provide reliable and trustworthy information from academia and experts working in the food sector. Through videos, activities, and quizzes, the course will create an awareness and understanding of the food system and empower citizens to make safe, healthy, and sustainable food choices. The course will cover topics including food contaminants, control of food safety, ethical issues and sustainability considerations, and consumer information and responsibilities.

Skip to 1 minute and 41 seconds As a result, learners can become responsible partners in the food system, overcome their concerns and create trust in food production, and spark a new generation of informed consumers. The course is for all consumers and citizens who are interested in food and for the curious minds who are looking for reliable information on diet and health, food quality, safety, and authenticity, and ethical and sustainability considerations. In particular, the course will provide a fantastic source of revision material for 16 to 18-year-old students undertaking a subject related to food. Enrol now for free on FutureLearn.

What topics will you cover?

● Food Constituents

● The link between diet and health

● Food Integrity (food quality, safety and authenticity)

● Ethical and sustainability considerations in the food system

● The role of the consumer in making safe, healthy and sustainable food choices

Who is this accredited by?

The CPD Certification Service
The CPD Certification Service:

The CPD Certification Service was established in 1996 and is the leading independent CPD accreditation institution operating across industry sectors to complement the CPD policies of professional and academic bodies.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the term food integrity
  • Explore ethical and sustainability issues surrounding food production
  • Assess how the consumer is protected by legislation
  • Explain how food can become contaminated by biological, chemical or physical hazards
  • Identify the role of the consumer in ensuring food safety and becoming change agents in the transition towards a smart, inclusive and trusted food system
  • Reflect on the work organisations are doing in relation to food safety e.g. EFSA

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for anyone interested in food and looking for reliable information on how to make safer, healthier and more sustainable food choices.

It will be particularly useful for final year schools students undertaking a food-related subject or interested in food science as a potential career pathway.

Who will you learn with?

Michaela is a Lecturer in Education working on the development of EITFOOD education programmes. Her background is in food science and research at the Institute for Global Food Security.

Teresa is the EIT Food Education Programs Manager at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid.
She did a PhD in Agrochemistry and is now working at the Institute of Food Science Research (CIAL, UAM-CSIC).

Researcher at the Institute of Food Science Research (CIAL, CSIC). Interested on biological activity of foods in different physiological and pathological conditions, and on gut microbiota.

I studied process engineering and I have a PhD in food technology. I currently work as Postdoc at Aarhus University. I am interested in processing-structure-function interrelations of food ingredients

Carolina Simó, Ph.D., is
a researcher at the Institute of
Food Science Research (CIAL-CSIC).
She is specialized Omics
Technologies in Food Science (ORCID iD: 0000-0002-7140-0795).

Who developed the course?

EIT Food

EIT Food is Europe’s leading food initiative, working to make the food system more sustainable, healthy and trusted.

Queen's University Belfast

Queen’s University Belfast is a member of the Russell Group of 24 leading UK research-intensive universities.

European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)

The European Institute of Innovation & Technology strengthens Europe’s ability to innovate by powering solutions to pressing global challenges and by nurturing entrepreneurial skills in Europe’s largest innovation ecosystem.

Endorsers and supporters

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Learning on FutureLearn

Your learning, your rules

  • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
  • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
  • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

Join a global classroom

  • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
  • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
  • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

Map your progress

  • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
  • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

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