Food Technologist/Scientist

Working Schedule

• Food Technologists and Scientists work full-time, usually in offices or laboratories. They may travel to visit locations such as processing plants. 

Typical Duties

• Collaborate with food producers, packagers, storage centers, distributors, and regulatory agencies regarding sanitation, safety, quality assurance, and waste disposal
• Explore food elements and discover new food sources using knowledge of chemistry and biology
• Study the chemical composition of ingredients and how to interact when combined to form products
• Conduct basic and applied research aimed at boosting food processing safety, productivity, and efficiency 
• Examine the nutritional content of food products. Suggest replacements for unwanted additives
• Visit processing facilities to review and help manage projects
• Examine raw ingredients to ensure they are ready for use but not spoiled or past their freshness date
• Help design and develop new food products and improve existing ones to last longer, taste better, be more nutritious and healthier, and sell more! 
• Study how food holds up during storage periods. Propose strategies for better packaging and delivery to help food stay preserved and fresh longer

• Review products for taste, texture, visual attributes, and nutritional content; collaborate with plant operators and process engineers to suggest changes and improvements
• Test new products to ensure compliance with standards

Additional Responsibilities

• Manage teams working together on larger research projects
• Pay attention to consumer feedback; make recommendations for changes based on the data
• Help write standards and specifications in compliance with applicable state and federal regulations
• Read relevant articles and news to keep up on changes in the food science profession
• Work with nanotechnology to detect contaminants

Soft Skills

• Analytical Thinking 
• Attention to detail
• Decisive
• Dependable 
• Flexible 
• Goal-oriented
• Independent 
• Initiative
• Innovative
• Integrity 
• Organized
• Patient 
• Persistent
• Problem-solving
• Strong communication skills 
• Teamwork

Technical Skills

• Biology 
• Organic chemistry
• Microbiology
• Computational modeling and simulation, such as COMSOL, MATLAB, or Aspen Plus
• Customer relationship management
• Food production and processing techniques and equipment
• Food safety and traceability programs such as FoodLogiQ, SafetyChain, or TraceGains
• Industry-related software, such as Genesis R&D and ESHA Food Processor
• Laboratory Information Management Systems 
• Math (arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics)
• Physics
• Quality Management Systems
• Sensory Evaluation Software
• Statistical analysis software, such as R, SAS, or SPSS

• Food manufacturers/research and development labs
• Universities
• Private consulting services
• Governmental agencies

Some positions require frequent travel, which can be tough on workers who have other obligations. When visiting controlled areas such as food processing facilities, Food Technologists and Scientists must follow strict procedures designed to mitigate contaminants being introduced to the area. Such areas may be kept at cold temperatures or might be noisy because of production machinery. 

Perhaps the main expectation is that workers in this field must know how to keep food safe for consumption. By the same, they could find themselves held at least partially accountable for occurrences where a food product makes a consumer sick, depending on the circumstances. 

Employment of Food Scientists is expected to grow by about 8%, which is more than the average of all career fields. The world’s population is growing, increasing the demand for limited resources such as water and agricultural products. At the same time, extreme weather conditions are hurting the agricultural community, sometimes resulting in less crop yields. All of these factors contribute to the need for Food Technologists and Scientists’ skills to help boost efficiency and productivity so that no food goes to waste. 

Other trends include the push for more meatless products, such as plant-based burger patties. Consumers are also increasingly interested in “functional foods” that offer a specific health or well-being benefit, such as probiotic drinks.

Food Technologists and Scientists may have enjoyed learning about chemistry in school or just been curious about how the food we eat is made. This field requires hard skills in math, data analysis, organic chemistry, and technology usage, as well as soft skills such as curiosity, critical thinking, and collaboration. These skills may have been initially developed in school but later applied and practiced in real life during college.