Profession Food scientist

Food scientist
Credits: Shutterstock.com

Food science technicians perform (standardised) tests to determine the properties of food or beverage products. They may provide assistance to food scientists and technologists.

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Personality Type

Tasks food scientist

  • Clean, maintain and set up laboratory equipment.
  • Collect and prepare samples.
  • Conduct standardized tests on food, beverages, additives and preservatives, e.g. to ensure compliance with standards and regulations of colour, texture, nutrients, etc.
  • Take measurements and readings, and compute product properties such as moisture or salt content, percentages of ingredients and formulas, e.g. using mathematical and chemical procedures.
  • Record and compile test results, and prepare graphs, charts and reports.
  • Analyze test results to classify products, or compare results with standard tables.
  • Examine chemical and biological samples, using microscope, to identify cell structures, locate bacteria, etc.
  • Taste or smell foods or beverages to ensure that flavors meet specifications or to select samples with specific characteristics.
  • Mix, blend or cultivate ingredients, e.g. to make reagents or to manufacture food or beverage products.
  • Measure, test and weigh bottles, cans and other containers, e.g. in order to ensure hardness, strength and compliance to specifications.
  • Order laboratory supplies.
  • Develop and adapt laboratory procedures, under the direction of scientists, following technical developments in the area.

Related professions food

  • Bakery products machine operator
  • Biscuit or cake maker
  • Bread baker in manufacturing
  • Cereal products machine operator
  • Chewing-gum maker
  • Chocolate maker
  • Chocolate products machine operator
  • Cocoa processing machine operator
  • Coffee processing machine operator
  • Confectionery maker (craft)
  • Confectionery maker (manufacturing)
  • Edible nut processing machine operator
  • Edible oil production machine operator
  • First line supervisor food manufacturing workers
  • Flour process controller
  • Grain- or spice-milling machine operator
  • Hand packer
  • Margarine processing machine operator
  • Packing or labelling machine operator
  • Pasta production machine operator
  • Pie maker
  • Pizza baker
  • Quality inspector food (no meat or fish)
  • Quality inspector grains, seeds
  • Soft-drinks production machine operator
  • Sugar production process controller
  • Tea processing machine operator
  • Vegetable processing machine operator
  • Vinegar making machine operator
  • Winemaking plant operator
  • Yeast maker

Source: Sisyphus ODB