FOOD ANALYSIS AND QUALITY CONTROL - 2020/1

Module Overview

The module provides theoretical and practical knowledge and skills required to undertake food analysis and quality control in order to improve the nutritional and eating quality and safety of food products. The lectures, practicals and tutorials form essential components of the degrees in Nutrition and Food Science BD46, Food Science and Microbiology CD56.

Module provider

School of Biosciences and Medicine

Module Leader

GRASSBY Terri (Biosc & Med)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 5

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

In taking this module, you cannot in the same year take BMS2043.  

Module content

Indicative content includes:




Chromatography, gel filtration, ion-exchange, HPLC, GC-MS and applications in food analysis




Analytical quality control and sample preparation




UV-visible spectrophotometry, principles and applications




IR, NIR, FTIR spectroscopy principles and applications




NMR and Raman spectroscopy; spectrofluorimetry principles and applications




Electrophoresis (PAGE and SDS-PAGE), PCR and ELISA




Refractive Index




Problem question workshop




Revision tutorials




PRACTICALS




Proximate analysis of meat products




Sugars – determination of sugars in different jams




Physical and chemical properties of starches




Physical and chemical properties of fats and oils




Analysis of caffeine by HPLC - statistical evaluation and precision

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Practical re-assessment format: Write-ups of practical data using data provided by the module leader.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate:

• 
  The knowledge gained on the principles of analytical techniques obtained from lectures and practicals
  


• 
  The knowledge gained on the advantages and disadvantages of analytical techniques taught through lectures, practicals and from directed reading.
  


• 
  Their practical skills in the laboratory.
  


• 
  Their ability to analyse and critically discuss the results obtained in the practicals.
  


• 
  Their ability to discuss the results obtained in relation to the lectures, published literature and food legislation.
  


• 
  Their ability to present their methods and results in a format suitable for publication.
  

 

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

Course work – 1 written report covering practical on the analysis of meat products, comprising an introduction, short methods section, relevant results and discussion (answering specific questions) written individually. (Submission deadline: 2 weeks after the practical). Report is worth 20% of the module mark. Also caffeine and sugar practical submissions on SurreyLearn (deadline one week after each practical) which will cover data manipulation and statistics, and specific questions; worth 10% each of the module mark.

 

Practical re-assessment format: Write-ups from practical data.

The examination length is 1.5 hour. Candidates answer all sections, section 1 contains a problem-solving question, section 2 is 5 short answer questions, section 3 is 2 short essay questions from a choice of 4. The examination is worth 60% of the module mark

 

Formative assessment and feedback

An optional report on the caffeine practical will be offered as an opportunity to receive formative feedback relevant to the summative report.

Feedback is provided individually on the coursework submissions within three semester weeks after submission.

The formative assessment comprises feedback during classes and tutorials and for practicals not assessed (e.g. analysis of different starches and the analysis of fats and oils).

The practicals are usually done in groups of four to six and the results are obtained by the whole group and discussed during the practical sessions (or soon after). In the assessed practical all the data from all the groups are discussed so that the group results can be compared.

Verbal feedback in class discussions and tutorials.





 

Module aims

• To examine in detail the principles of the standard biochemical and the most modern spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques used for food analysis
• To examine critically the advantages and disadvantages of techniques applied to the analysis of food components and the results obtained
• To assess the results obtained in terms of the regulations related to selected food products
• Statistical evaluation of results

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

 

• 
  To equip the student with a detailed knowledge of the principles of the standard and advanced biochemical, spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques used for food analysis through lectures and practicals and directed reading.
  


• 
  To critically discuss the advantages and disadvantages of techniques applied to the analysis of food components and the results obtained in practical reports.
  


• 
  To assess the results obtained in terms of the regulations related to selected food products through directed reading.
  


• 
   To enable the students to apply statistical methods for evaluating results in the practicals.
  

 

The learning and teaching methods include:

• 
  Lectures (16h) and Seminars - pre-practical (1h) and revision sessions (3h) and Problem questions workshop (2h) = Total class time (22h)
  


• 
  Practicals (1x6h, 4x3h, Total 18h)
  

 

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: BMS2053

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2020/1 academic year.