Reverse engineering, also known as back engineering, is a process of obtaining knowledge from a manufactured product and developing one with similar characteristics. In the food and beverage industries, reverse engineering is also called deformulation. By reverse engineering, food manufacturing start ups can learn how a product is made and update an existing product that meets consumer requirements.

1. How to get started with
reverse engineering of
food products?
An Academic presentation by
Dr. Nancy Agnes, Head, Technical Operations,
FoodResearchLab
Group: www.foodresearchlab.com
Email: info@foodresearchlab.com

2. Reverse engineering, also known as back engineering, is a
process of obtaining knowledge from a manufactured product
and developing one with similar characteristics.
In the food and beverage industries, reverse engineering is also
called deformulation.
By reverse engineering, food manufacturing start-ups can
learn how a product is made and update an existing product
that meets consumer requirements.
WHAT IS REVERSE
ENGINEERING?

3. The food industry must develop food products that are convenient,
tasty, affordable, and meet regulatory requirements.
For this purpose, they must consider the traditional methods of food
product development and food processing techniques and reformulate
them by reverse engineering.
Food reverse engineering also helps to reduce potential risks.
In addition, reverse engineering also helps in the formulation of vegan
products that mimic the organoleptic properties of animal-based or
dairy products, like vegan milk and cheese.

4. STEPS INVOLVED IN REVERSE
ENGINEERING OF FOOD PRODUCTS
The following are the steps involved in the reverse engineering of food
products:
Choose a food product you want to reverse engineer
The product may be formulated by a competitor or one that is successful, but
you want to create a product specific to a target audience.

5. Obtain information specific to the product
Recreate the food product
Begin this process by obtaining multiple samples of the product.
Study the components of the product by examining the food
product label, packaging, and ingredients.
After thoroughly analyzing the ingredients, the product can be
recreated by using varying proportions of the ingredients to
obtain a similar appearance, taste, and texture.

6. Test the product and make any changes if necessary
Document the procedures
Validate the results
While recreating the product, test it for its sensory properties and
nutritional profile.
Take notes of the manufacturing process involved in reverse
engineering. Doing so will help you develop subsequent batches of the
food products efficiently.
Compare the product with the original product from which you have
reverse engineered. Conduct sensory evaluation to determine the
likeness and quality of your reverse-engineered food product [1].

8. CONCLUSION
Reverse engineering involves gathering knowledge from an existing
product by analysing its ingredients and nutritional profile and
developing a similar one.
Reverse engineering food products makes them more consumer-
friendly in terms of pricing and food quality and ensures they meet the
food regulations.
The steps include selecting the product, analyzing the ingredients and
nutritional profile, product recreation, testing, documentation, and
validation.
These steps help in developing a reverse-engineered product.

9. We are a team of food technologists and scientists offering food product development services.
We help in new food product development, functional food product development, and
reformulating an existing product by reverse engineering.
We also provide food product development ideas for our clients that help them develop a broad
range of food products like millet food products, novel food products, and natural food products.
We also evaluate the food products for their quality, nutritional profile, and sensory characteristics
and ensure the products developed are successful.
HOW THE FOOD RESEARCH LAB CAN HELP

10. info@foodresearchlab.com
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