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UCT PragueFFBTDepartment of Food Analysis and Nutrition About department History of the Department

History of the Department

1. 9. 2026 Martina Vlčková

History of the Department

The Department of Food Analysis and Nutrition builds on more than two centuries of education in food chemistry and analytical chemistry in the Czech lands. Its roots date back to 1795, when Professor František Gerstner proposed proposed adding topics related to processing plant and animal raw materials to the technical chemistry curriculum.

From Food Chemistry to Modern Analysis

Following the establishment of Czechoslovakia, the Institute of Analytical and Food Chemistry was founded in 1920 at the School of Chemical-Technological Engineering. Professor Josef Hanuš, the founder of the modern discipline of food chemistry and food analysis in Czechoslovakia, headed it.

The department's independent history began in 1953 with the establishment of the Department of Food Control and Processing. It was later renamed, in 1957/1958, the Department of Food Chemistry and Testing. Under Professor Gustav Janíček's leadership, the department played a major role in shaping modern concepts of food chemistry, food analysis, and food quality control.

An important milestone came in 1980 with the launch of the five-year interdisciplinary degree programme in "Food Chemistry and Analysis." In addition to food chemistry and analysis, the curriculum gradually expanded to include sensory analysis, nutrition, food additives, contaminants, and food safety assessment.

In 1990, the department was renamed the Department of Food Chemistry and Analysis. Since 2012, it has operated under its current name, the Department of Food Analysis and Nutrition.

Key Milestones

  • 1953 – Establishment of the Department of Food Control and Processing
  • 1957/1958 – Renamed the Department of Food Chemistry and Testing
  • 1980 – Launch of the interdisciplinary study programme "Food Chemistry and Analysis"
  • 1990 – Renaming to the Department of Food Chemistry and Analysis
  • 2004 – Transition to Bachelor's and consecutive Master's degree programmes
  • 2012 – Adoption of the current name, Department of Food Analysis and Nutrition
  • 2018 – Accreditation of the Bachelor's programme "Food Chemistry and Analysis" and the Master's programme "Food Chemistry and Analysis of Foods and Natural Products"
  • 2019 – Accreditation of the doctoral programme "Foods and Natural Products"
  • 2025 – Accreditation of the Bachelor's programme "Forensic and Toxicological Analysis"
  • 2026 – Accreditation of the Master's programmes "Forensic and Toxicological Analysis" and "Food Quality and Nutrition"

Heads of the Department

  • 1953–1976: Prof. Gustav Janíček, DrSc.
  • 1976–1991: Prof. Jiří Davídek, DrSc.
  • 1991–2010: Prof. Jan Velíšek, DrSc.
  • 2010–2017: Prof. Jana Hajšlová, CSc.
  • Since 2017: Prof. Jana Pulkrabová, Ph.D.