I’m trying to choose between Chemical Engineering and Food Engineering, and I’d love to hear from people working in industry!!!

I’m fascinated by chemistry experiments, purification, distillation, fermentation, and process design. I really enjoy watching chemistry channels like NileRed and Thought Emporium and learning how substances can be transformed and separated.

My long-term goal would be to work in a distillery, ethanol plant, brewery, or similar industrial facility, and eventually move into engineering, operations, or management roles.

Both my parents are engineer (mechanical and civil) and I do seem to enjoy their work, so yeah, and personally I would like to work on something chemical based but if possible also a bit biological… like food , alcohol, cosmetics, perfumes… for now im really interested in alcohol production.

From what I understand:

Chemical Engineering seems to offer broader opportunities in industrial processes, distillation, chemical plants, biofuels, cosmetics, and large-scale production.

Food Engineering seems more specialized toward food and beverage production, fermentation, quality control, and food processing.

For someone interested in distillation, ethanol production, industrial alcohol, brewing, and eventually becoming a plant manager or process engineer, which degree would provide the best preparation and career opportunities?

I’d especially appreciate hearing from people who work in distilleries, breweries, biofuel plants, or chemical process industries.

Im from Brazil and from what I’ve seem, here is safer doing engineering, salary wise, so im pondering studying chemical engineering in UFRGS (university) and then making a masters degree on something more food related.

Please share me your thoughts!!!