Profession Food scientist

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

Personality Type

• Investigative / Realistic
• Realistic / Investigative
• Social / Realistic

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