CONECTA KIDS: EDUCATING CHILDREN ABOUT INDUSTRIALIZED FOOD

Abstract

Food industrialization plays a vital role in enhancing the availability of food products, catering to the growing demands of the global population, and ensuring food safety and product variety. With the aim of sparking children’s interest in food industrialization, the second-period class of the Higher Degree in Food Technology at UniSenai (Campus Chapecó) welcomed a visit from a municipal school. This visit served as an evaluative activity for the curricular component of Applied Project I. Initially, a questionnaire was administered to identify students with food allergies or intolerances. The event commenced with a reception, followed by a performance illustrating the evolution and significance of food industrialization. Subsequently, the school students engaged in a hands-on activity where they were taught the appropriate hand hygiene technique. This was followed by a tour of the institution’s educational laboratories, allowing the children to view the equipment used in industrial processing. A “Dare or Double Dare” style Q&A game was then conducted to reinforce the concepts discussed. The event concluded with a gathering among participants. The scholars’ dedication and enthusiasm in taking a central role throughout the process were evident. Concurrently, the children’s infectious joy and keen interest in exploring the realm of food technology were unmistakable.