Trends in Food Processing

Since 1980, we have seen a phenomenal expansion in the food processing industry in India, attributed mainly to the technological revolution in the processing and packaging. New ranges of products have come to the market, which are easy to handle, having long shelf-life without air-conditioned storage and takes very short time to cook.

Over the years 1985 – 90, the installed capacities of processed foods like chocolates, bread, biscuits, vermicelli and noodles have increased many folds. There has been an upward trend in the industrial status of the various food processing units. Some selected processed foods like conventional snack mixes, ready to eat snacks, flavored milks, masala mixes have registered a manifold increase in number of units by 1989 – 90.

Commercial productions of convenient food items including snack mixes have increased many folds. Keeping tuned with the fast moving working classes, there are several thousands of units registered as manufacturers of convenient snack items as against only five in 1972. The introduction of many units as present, offering ready to eat/cook snack food items including potato wafers, vermicelli is an indication of the growth of this sector.