TLE 8 AFA W6D1: Importance of Food Processing

🎯 Learning Goals

• Explain the importance of food processing in improving safety, shelf life, and quality of food products.
• Identify different methods of food fish processing such as canning, freezing, smoking, and drying.
• Recognize how food processing contributes to food security, nutrition, and consumer convenience.

🧩 Key Ideas & Terms

• Edible – something that is safe and suitable for consumption as food.
• Shelf life – the length of time a product can be stored and remain safe for consumption while retaining its desired quality, taste, and nutritional value.
• Convenient – something that is easy to use, saves time, or simplifies a task or process.
• Palatable – something that has a pleasant taste or flavor, making it enjoyable to eat or drink.
• Variety – diversity or range of different options within a particular category or context.

🔄 Prior Knowledge

1. What are examples of traditional fishing techniques?
   Show Answer

   Hand line fishing, spearfishing, cast netting
2. Can you give examples of modern fishing techniques?
   Show Answer

   Rod and reel fishing
3. What are examples of post-harvest handling activities?
   Show Answer

   Sorting and grading, storing

📖 Explore the Lesson – Day 1: Importance of Food Processing

Food processing is one of the most important activities in the fisheries and food industry. It plays a vital role in ensuring that the food we eat is safe, tasty, nutritious, and available for longer periods. Let us carefully study why food processing matters, what methods are commonly used, and how it connects to our daily lives.

1. What is Food Processing?

Food processing refers to the set of practices and techniques used to prepare food for consumption. This may include cleaning, cutting, heating, drying, canning, freezing, smoking, or packaging. These methods make food edible, safe, and convenient to use.

• For example, freshly caught fish may spoil quickly if not preserved. By using methods such as freezing, smoking, or canning, the fish can be stored for weeks or even months without losing its quality.
• In simple terms, food processing makes food last longer, taste better, and stay safe to eat.

2. Why Do We Process Food?

Food processing is important for many reasons. Let’s break them down into six main points:

1. Extended Shelf Life and Food Safety
   • One of the main purposes of food processing is to keep food safe for a longer time.
   • Techniques like canning, freezing, smoking, and drying prevent harmful microorganisms (such as bacteria) from causing spoilage.
   • For example, canned sardines can last months or even years without spoiling because they are sealed and heated properly.
2. Innovation and Variety
   • Food processing creates many types of products from the same raw material.
   • A single type of fish (like tuna) can be processed into canned tuna, frozen tuna fillets, smoked tuna, or tuna jerky.
   • This variety gives consumers more options and helps reduce food waste by transforming surplus catches into new products.
3. Economic Benefits
   • The food processing industry creates jobs in farming, harvesting, packaging, quality control, and sales.
   • For communities near fishing grounds, processing plants provide income and livelihood opportunities.
   • Fish processing also supports local businesses such as ice suppliers, packaging companies, and transport services.
4. Nutritional Enhancement
   • Some processed foods are enriched with added vitamins and minerals.
   • For example, breakfast cereals are fortified with iron and vitamin B12, while milk may be fortified with vitamin D.
   • This helps prevent malnutrition and ensures that people receive enough nutrients.
5. Sustainability and Waste Reduction
   • Processing reduces food loss by preserving food that might otherwise spoil.
   • Fish that cannot be sold fresh in the market can still be dried, frozen, or smoked, preventing waste and ensuring that nothing goes to waste.
   • Proper processing also supports Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger, because it helps communities have access to food even when fresh supply is low.
6. Convenience for Consumers
   • Processed foods are easier to cook and eat, saving time for busy families.
   • For example, frozen fish fillets can be cooked quickly, while canned sardines are ready to eat straight from the can.
   • Ready-to-eat products like fish crackers, fish balls, and dried squid snacks are popular because they require little to no preparation.

3. Methods of Food Processing

The four basic methods used in fish processing are:

1. Canning
   • Involves sealing fish in airtight containers and heating them to destroy harmful microorganisms.
   • Example: Canned tuna, canned sardines.
   • Advantage: Long shelf life (months to years).
2. Freezing
   • Fish is stored at very low temperatures to stop bacteria from multiplying.
   • Example: Frozen tilapia fillets or frozen squid.
   • Advantage: Maintains freshness and quality for weeks or months.
3. Smoking
   • Exposing fish to smoke from burning wood, which dries the fish and adds flavor.
   • Example: Smoked bangus (milkfish).
   • Advantage: Adds unique flavor, extends shelf life.
4. Drying
   • Moisture is removed from the fish by sun-drying, oven-drying, or using dehydrators.
   • Example: Daing na bangus, dried squid.
   • Advantage: Low-cost preservation method, long-lasting.

4. The Bigger Picture: Food Security and Society

• Global Food Security: By making food last longer, countries can store and transport food across regions, ensuring that people in different areas have access to it.
• Health and Nutrition: Fortified and processed foods prevent nutrient deficiencies and improve public health.
• Culture and Tradition: Many processed fish products, such as smoked fish, dried squid, and bagoong (fermented fish paste), are part of Filipino culinary heritage.
• Economic Growth: The food processing industry is linked to trade, export, and job creation, contributing to Sustainable Development Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.

5. Reflection Questions for Students

1. Why do we need to process fish and other foods?
2. How does food processing benefit both consumers and producers?
3. What are some ways food processing supports global food security?
4. Which food processing method do you think is most important for your community? Why?

📚 References

• Basa, A. (2022). Why there’s “closed season” for fishing certain fishes in specific waters. Manila Bulletin. https://mb.com.ph/2022/11/19/why-theres-closed-season-for-fishing-certain-fishes-in-specific-waters
• FutureLearn. (n.d.). How is my food made? https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/how-is-my-food-made
• Haneefa, H. (2022). Smoke Drying Technology for Fish Preservation. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/smoke-drying-technology-fish-preservation-hiba-haneefa-smqyc
• OmsonsLabs. (n.d.). Laboratory Thermometer. https://omsonslabs.com/laboratory-thermometer/
• United Nations. (2015). Sustainable Development Goals. https://sdgs.un.org/goals

💡 Example in Action – Day 1

Worked Example: Fish Processing and Its Impact

Suppose a fisherman catches 20 kilograms of fresh milkfish (bangus). If left unprocessed, most of this catch will spoil within 1–2 days.

By applying different food processing methods, the fish can be preserved in various ways:

1. Canning – The milkfish can be canned and stored for months, allowing it to be sold in supermarkets nationwide.
2. Freezing – The fish can be frozen and exported abroad, keeping its freshness for weeks or months.
3. Smoking – The fish can be smoked, giving it a distinct flavor and making it last longer while also becoming a cultural delicacy.
4. Drying – The fish can be dried and sold as daing na bangus, a popular Filipino dish that can be stored at room temperature.

👉 This shows that food processing prevents spoilage, creates business opportunities, and makes food available to more people.

Now You Try Mini-task

Imagine you are part of a fish processing team. You have 10 kilograms of freshly caught tilapia.

1. Which processing method would you choose (canning, freezing, smoking, drying)?
2. What would be the main benefit of your chosen method?
3. How would it help your community?

Show Possible Answer

1. Freezing.
2. The main benefit is keeping the tilapia fresh for several weeks.
3. This helps the community because families can buy tilapia in bulk and store it, reducing food waste and ensuring food supply even when fishing is low.

📝 Try It Out – Day 1

1. Identification
   List down two advantages of processing fish through canning.
   Show Answer

   - Longer shelf life (months to years)
   - Ensures safety by killing harmful microorganisms
2. Application
   Your family caught fish during the weekend, but you cannot consume all of it right away. Which processing method would you recommend to preserve it, and why?
   Show Answer

   Freezing, because it keeps the fish fresh and safe to eat for a longer time without changing much of its taste and texture.
3. Analysis
   Explain how food processing can help prevent food waste in fishing communities.
   Show Answer

   By turning surplus or unsold fish into processed products (like dried, smoked, or canned fish), communities can avoid spoilage and still sell the products later.

✅ Check Yourself – Day 1 Quiz

A. Multiple Choice (1–4)

1. Which is the main purpose of food processing?
   a) To make food more expensive
   b) To extend shelf life and ensure safety
   c) To reduce taste and nutrition
   d) To waste surplus food
   Show Answer

   b) To extend shelf life and ensure safety
2. Which method involves removing moisture to preserve fish?
   a) Freezing
   b) Smoking
   c) Drying
   d) Canning
   Show Answer

   c) Drying
3. What food processing method uses airtight containers and heat?
   a) Canning
   b) Freezing
   c) Smoking
   d) Drying
   Show Answer

   a) Canning
4. Which of these is an economic benefit of food processing?
   a) Reduces job opportunities
   b) Increases unemployment
   c) Creates jobs and supports businesses
   d) Stops food variety
   Show Answer

   c) Creates jobs and supports businesses

B. True or False (5–7)

5. Food processing can help reduce food waste in communities.
   Show Answer

   True
6. Freezing fish destroys microorganisms mainly by heating.
   Show Answer

   False – freezing stops bacteria from multiplying but does not kill all of them.
7. Smoked fish has a shorter shelf life than fresh fish.
   Show Answer

   False – smoked fish lasts longer than fresh fish.

C. Short Answer (8–10)

8. Give one example of a processed fish product that is common in Filipino households.
   Show Answer

   Canned sardines, dried fish (daing), smoked fish (tinapa), etc.
9. How does food processing contribute to Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger?
   Show Answer

   By preserving food, reducing waste, and making food available year-round, it ensures access to safe and nutritious food.
10. Explain one way food processing helps consumers with convenience.
    Show Answer

    It provides ready-to-eat or easy-to-cook food (like frozen fillets or canned fish), saving time and effort for busy families.

🚀 Go Further – Day 1

1. Enrichment: Poster-Making
   Create a poster that shows the different methods of food processing (canning, freezing, smoking, drying). Include at least one benefit of each method.
   Show Example

   Poster may show 4 panels:
   - Canning → “Safe & Long Shelf Life”
   - Freezing → “Freshness Preserved”
   - Smoking → “Flavor & Preservation”
   - Drying → “Low-cost & Long-lasting”
2. Remediation: Vocabulary Match
   Match the terms with their meanings:
   • Edible
   • Shelf Life
   • Convenient
   • Palatable
   • Variety
   Show Answer

   - Edible → safe to eat
   - Shelf Life → length of time food stays safe and good
   - Convenient → easy to use or prepare
   - Palatable → pleasant taste
   - Variety → different choices or options
3. Extension: Community Interview
   Interview a local vendor or family member who sells or processes fish. Ask:
   • What processing method do they use?
   • Why do they prefer that method?
   • How does it help their business or family?
   Show Example

   Interview with a dried fish seller:
   - Method: Drying under the sun
   - Reason: Low cost, easy to do, no need for machines
   - Benefit: Prevents waste, provides stable income year-round

🔗 My Reflection – Day 1

✍️ Notebook Task (3–5 sentences)

Write a short reflection in your notebook:
“In this lesson, I learned the importance of food processing for keeping food safe, nutritious, and available for longer. I realized how different methods like canning, freezing, smoking, and drying prevent waste and provide jobs in the community. I understand that food processing not only helps families but also supports the economy and food security.”

📋 Checklist Reflection

In your notebook, check (✔) if you agree with the statements:

• I can explain why food processing is important.
• I can identify at least 3 methods of fish processing.
• I understand how food processing helps reduce food waste.
• I can explain how food processing provides convenience for consumers.
• I can connect food processing to community livelihood and global food security.