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Convenience Foods – a perfect example of innovative Food Tech
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Thursday, 01 July, 2010, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Tarang Koppal
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Convenience foods, as the word suggests, are pre-prepared meals or foodstuffs that are designed to help consumers save time and effort in their kitchens. They require minimal preparation (typically only heating or microwaving) and are often packed to provide long shelf lives with little loss of flavour or nutrients. Considering the pace and nature of today’s lifestyle, it isn’t surprising that they are soon turning into an integral part of our diet and culture.
Origin
Although it would be impossible to name one single date when such foods were first invented or the term first coined, it is evident that convenience foods or ready-to-eat foods began as simple single ingredient snacks. There are also several interesting anecdotes that detail how shifts from conventional cooking to prepared snack foods may have first originated. The invention of the ever-popular Potato Chip way back in 1853 is one such fascinating tale.
As the story goes, there was a cook by the name of George Crum who worked at a posh resort in Saratoga Springs, New York. A patron there had ordered some fried potatoes with his meal, which was already a common menu item in that region. On being served, he complained that the potatoes were too thick and sent them back to the cook. Crum, who was known to possess a fiery disposition, was rather upset that someone had criticized his cooking. So he sliced a new batch of potatoes paper-thin, fried them crisp in boiling oil, and then salted them.
What was intended to be a stunt, instead, turned out to be a raving hit! The fussy patron and his friend loved the crunchy potato slices. Very soon the chips became famous and were termed Saratoga Chips. George Crum later started his own restaurant called Crumbs House, and promoted the chips further by placing large baskets of these on every table. They soon became popular all over and came to be known at Potato Chips. Commercial manufacturing followed shortly, and they became available in grocery stores in 1895.
Thus surprising though it may seem, the recipe for the world’s most popular snack is more than 150 years old!
Role of food technology
The growth of convenience foods owes almost all credit to the developments in food and packaging technology. Without assistance in this arena, it would have been impossible to mass produce commercial recipes and provide shelf stable alternatives to otherwise contamination & degradation-prone foods.
Conventional foods that can’t even be left out overnight on your kitchen platform are now sold on store shelves in packets that make it last more than 6 months without the need for refrigeration! Modern technology has made it possible to preserve nutrition, supplement and fortify with micronutrients, reduce moisture content, dehydrate-rehydrate, sterilize & pasteurize, etc. - all this while still retaining the original flavours, colours, taste & texture. Enhancements in packaging include active, controlled or intelligent packs that greatly extend the shelf life of the product.
Apart from providing convenience to the consumer, offering hygienically packed foods and reducing global food wastage, this has also helped in making foods available off-season.
Classification
Convenience foods can be categorised in various ways, but are usually classified depending on the level of preparation necessary to prepare the final product.
A primary categorisation can be made in terms of:
Basic – dried, frozen or canned foods with one or very few ingredients – eg. Instant potatoes, frozen juice concentrates, canned vegetables, etc.
Complex – a food mix made up of several ingredients offering reduced process / cooking time. – eg. Ready-to-use frosting, frozen waffles, frozen entrees, etc.
Highly Processed – products that cannot be made at home since they are made using advanced processes and technology – eg. Carbonated beverages, instant breakfasts, ready-to-eat cereals, etc.
Therefore, as convenience foods satisfy the consumer for speeding up or even avoiding preparation of meals altogether, they tend to be popular among professional men & women, singles, elderly citizens and people with less cooking experience or time. Even hotels & restaurants are dependent upon prepared ingredients while catering to large number of patrons, as this not only requires less space but also allows for more rapid processing. The choice between various categories available is dependent on individual needs and conveniences.
Healthy convenience foods
With a growing awareness regarding nutritional trends and healthy eating, consumers are demanding more information of product labels and expecting more benefits from the packed, processed foods that they purchase. The same is demanded even from convenience foods.
Several types of beneficial foods are now being manufactured and sold in easy-to-serve or ready-to-eat packing formats.
■ Healthy foods – low fat, low cholesterol, low-sugar, etc.
■ Functional foods – antioxidants, anti-aging, anti-diabetic, heart-healthy, etc.
■ Nutritionally-fortified foods – vitamin enriched, high calcium, etc.
■ Gluten-free and Allergen-free foods
Several such healthy convenience foods have gained wide popularity and acceptance as is evident from their growing market demand. Globally, some of the top rated convenience products include Energy bars, Nutrition bars, Fruit preserves, Whole grain cereals, Fruit shakes, Milk smoothies, Low-fat yoghurt, Frozen desserts, Packed raw vegetables with dips, etc.
Conclusion
Though some convenience foods are termed as ‘junk foods’ because they are high in saturated fats, sugars and salt; several others are not. Frozen vegetables and fruits are perfect examples of healthy convenience foods – easy to use, readily available and often higher in nutrients than conventionally stored produce.
Manufacturers should be encouraged to develop convenient and, at the same time, healthier food options. Similarly consumers should also be encouraged to read product labels, understand what they buy and thus make more informed food choices.
We have to accept that convenience foods are a fact of new-age living and fulfill a much required need in today's hectic and demanding lifestyle. They are and will remain an irreplaceable option in today’s world since, most importantly, they help create time!
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