Post Graduate Programs in Food and Nutrition in Canada

Nowadays, people are aware of everything they eat. They are curious about what makes their food healthier. From the number of carbs, proteins, healthy fats, and more to the number of calories in the food, people are becoming more conscious about these things more and more. It is all science—the science of food and nutrition. If you are more curious about knowing the components of nutrition in food, you can get a PG in food and nutrition after your graduation. The course in food and nutrition provides all the knowledge and skills required to research, process, and preserve components of nutrition.

The food industry is the one that is never going obsolete. There is always something new to learn and achieve. Therefore, you can make a promising career in many fields if you are a food and nutrition major. 

Study food and nutrition in Canada

Why Canada?

Well, why not? Who would not want to study in a country with the best education system and endless job opportunities? Canada is a land of versatile cultures, a large economy, and the world’s top universities and colleges. Canadian universities offer PG courses in food and nutrition for both national and international students. The affordable education system makes every student opt for whatever they want. Moreover, it provides a work permit after the completion of your course so that you can find a job in the country. So, if you are looking to do PG in food and nutrition in a foreign country, Canada is the right choice for you. 

Postgraduate courses in food and nutrition in Canada

Food and nutrition deals with the processing and preservation of food. Students also study the changes in nutrient composition during food processing and storage. There are many postgraduate courses in food and nutrition in Canada that you can choose from. But, there are the top three that stand out. These three courses will give you a deeper understanding of food and the science behind it. The classes are designed in a way to provide both the biological and social science outlook. The courses are as follows:

1. Food and Nutrition Management
2. Food Safety And Quality Assurance
3. Food Science and Technology

1. Food and Nutrition Management

Food and nutrition management is a course based upon your culinary skills. The course focuses on food modification, clinical nutrition, physiology, nutrition analysis, and sanitation and safety. This is a suitable program for students who have a keen interest in the science of food and who enjoy managing people. This course prepares you to compete in the dynamic world of foodservice and provides you with the ability to supervise commercial or industrial kitchens. 

PG in food and nutrition management combines food service administration and healthcare and builds on your culinary skills. It gives you the real-world experience needed to make your way into the food services and healthcare industry. You will learn how hospitals, retirement homes and long-term care facilities provide nutritious food to their patients and residents. Students of food and nutrition management get the ability to:

• Create menus integrating nutritional, dietary, and medical needs, taking the customer’s personal, traditional, and cultural preferences into account. 
• Prepare and present food, taking into account the relevant legislation, policies, procedures, and industry practices to ensure the client’s health, safety, and satisfaction. 
• Work professionally as a team with other members and adhere to the industry’s legal standards or the organization. 
• Take care of the nutritional needs of each client in healthcare with the help of healthcare professionals. 
• Supervise effectively and monitor local, national, as well as global trends. Also, pay attention to the latest technological changes in legislation and best practices to perform more efficiently. 
• Deliver services that cater to the needs of both the customer and the organization’s standards and objectives.
• Plan and manage budgets putting into perspective the organization’s objectives and legal requirements for food and service departments. 
• Hire, coach, train, and evaluate each staff member’s work performance in accordance with human resources, labour relations, health and safety at the workplace, and industry best practices. 
• Analyze food and nutrition services and operations and continuously improve with change and enhancement in the foodservice industry. 
• Take into account industry best practices, financial refrains, environmental sustainability, and fundamental social responsibilities to manage suppliers and attain goods and services. 
• Promote food and nutrition services to advertise marketing plans and demands of the stakeholders. 

Careers in food and nutrition management

Students of food and nutrition management have excellent career opportunities. Due to Canada’s increasing number of seniors, there has also been an increase in healthcare facilities. A food and nutrition management graduate is eligible to become a Canadian Society of Nutrition Management member, which allows him to work as a food and nutrition manager in the country’s accredited healthcare facilities. Students of this program can also get career opportunities in large foodservice companies associated with the healthcare industry, large catering companies, and commercial and industrial kitchens. There are positions such as:

• Food Service Supervisor
• Food Manager
• Nutrition Manager
• Food Service Director
• Diet Technician

Admission requirements:

To pursue a postgraduate in food and nutrition management in Canada, a student needs to fulfil the following admission criteria: 

• The student must have completed a bachelor’s degree, a diploma, a certificate, or an apprenticeship in culinary on hospitality management.
• Many universities prefer relative work experience in the field.
• Some programs also accept students who have a degree in nutrition and other subjects like marketing and accounting. 
• International students need to present an English language proficiency test score. 

1. Food safety and quality assurance

Food safety and quality assurance course focuses on quality management of food, including quality control, quality system, and quality assurance. Students apply theoretical knowledge in quality assurance and food safety in the food manufacturing process. The program is designed to enhance previous skills that can be applied directly in the food processing environment. 

A postgraduate in food and quality assurance in Canada teaches students about the fundamentals of food policy development, Canadian and international food law, food safety management, systems risk analysis, HACCP principles, cleaning and sanitation principles, and quality control elements of the food processing sector. The program trains a student to: 

• Apply scientific chemistry and microbiology concepts to develop, monitor, and maintain food safety and quality assurance specific to the food processing environment. 
• Apply theoretical knowledge in a real food manufacturing environment to ensure food safety and quality. Also, evaluate the effectiveness of practical applications at every level across the logistics chain from the farm to the customer. 
• Analyze rules and regulations applicable to food processing in accordance with food safety and quality assurance and find out what effects they have on operational activities in a food manufacturing environment. 
• Manage and modify food safety and quality assurance system components such as policies, procedures, and instructions according to the scientific principles, along with the regulations and laws using clear communication and appropriate terminology.  
• Find different means to minimize and control food safety risks through cleaning and sanitation, traceability, HACCP, good manufacturing and agricultural practices, and other various quality assurance and food safety components based upon food safety risk assessments.
• Employee quality system-audit tools such as GFSI or ISO to ensure food processing operations in accordance with laws and regulations. 
• Collect, prepare, and test food and environmental samples using appropriate laboratory techniques. 
• Maintain reports after analyzing and interpreting sampling programs and studies related to food safety and quality assurance processes, drawing conclusions, and making recommendations that adhere to the regulations and best industry practices. 

Admission requirements:

To pursue PG in food safety and quality assurance in Canada, students must fulfil the following requirements:

• Students who have a previous degree or diploma in science, food or engineering and who want to be prepared for a career in food and nutritional technology can opt for this course. 
• International students need to demonstrate language proficiency by submitting either an IELTS or TOEFL score.
• Some Canadian universities also require relevant work experience in the field.

For in-depth admission criteria, you can get in touch with the Studynext counsellor by booking an appointment. 

Career opportunities

Food safety and quality assurance graduate can become a food safety supervisor, HACCP coordinator, and quality assurance and control technician. The best part about this program is that there are many jobs but not enough people to fill them. Most modern food companies have food safety and quality assurance department, and graduates in this program are responsible for also ensuring products meet quality and safety requirements. Some leading sectors in this field where students can find employment are:

• Quality Assurance
• Food Safety
• Product Development
• Research Development

Some positions include:

• Food Safety Auditor
• Government Inspector
• Quality Assurance Manager
• Industry Consultant

Food science and technology

Food science and technology focuses on how raw food materials are processed into healthy, safe, and appealing food items, along with a focus on either business or science. It is applying food science to the selection, preservation, processing, packaging, distribution, and use of safe food. Thorough research in this field is useful in figuring out how to make edible as well as nutritious food items. 

Postgraduate in Food science and technology in Canada offers graduate-level classwork and research opportunities related to food process technology, food microbiology edible oils, engineering design, post-mortem biochemistry of muscle, fruits, proteins enzymes, food rheology, and beverage science. These programs include laboratory components where you can practice your skills with a wide range of food processing equipment available. Some colleges and universities also offer co-op options. A graduate in food science and technology is able to:

• Complete all work in a food science environment according to relevant chemical, biological, and physical theories. 
• Use appropriate laboratory techniques for a given protocol and perform laboratory duties in accordance with legislation, regulations, policies, and procedures relevant to health, safety, and environmental practices. 
• Know the chemistry underlying the properties and reactions of various food components. Describe the source and variability of raw food material and their impact on food processing operations.
• Communicate technical and other relevant information in both oral and written format to a diverse audience. 
• Apply principles from the various aspects of food science and related disciplines to solve real-world problems.
• Discuss the basic methods of food preservation, including the right temperature, drying and water activity control, pressure, fermentation, and aseptic processing. 
• Analyze the important pathogens and spoilage microorganisms in foods, sources of these organisms, and the conditions under which they grow. 
• Discuss the response of microorganisms to environmental factors and various sanitization practices.
• Monitor the quality of raw ingredients and final products using emerging technologies. 

Admission requirements:

Students who want to pursue PG in food science and technology in Canada must have fulfilled the following admission criteria:

• Students must have a four-year bachelor’s degree or a 3-year college diploma from a recognized food science department, including engineering, chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, or biology. 
• Some universities require you to have previous culinary training. 
• Students who are not from a native English speaking country must possess a valid English language proficiency score. 

Career opportunities

Food scientists and technologists apply scientific disciplines such as chemistry, engineering, microbiology and nutrition to enhance food safety, nutrition, and availability. Food and beverage processing is one of the largest manufacturing industries in Canada. Food science and technology graduates may find work in the food manufacturing sector and also in government agencies supervising food regulation and inspection. 

Probable job aspects in the field include:

• Product Development Chef
• Food Processing Technician
• Food Packaging Technologist
• Food Production Manager
• Sanitation Coordinator
• Food Microbiologist
• Food Industry Regulation
• Food Safety Specialist