Food Technologists Job Description: Career, Education, Job Outlook and Salary Information
Submitted by: Cheska Davenport
Job Overview: Food technologists, also known as food scientists, are persons who study the chemical, physical and biological makeup of food and meals. They formulate methods to be used for safely processing, manufacturing, packaging and preserving of food so that their flavors and nutritional value will remain intact. They conduct various tests to see that products meet industry and government requirements.
Education, Knowledge and Training Required: Since this is a highly specialized job, the educational requirements for food technologists are right. Candidates for the job should have at least a bachelor’s degree in food science and technology, food engineering or related courses. Others may have a background in nutrition, as well as in chemistry, biology, microbiology, agriculture, and biochemistry. Those who seek for more advanced positions should also have higher educational attainments, such as master’s degrees and even doctorates.
Skills and Abilities: To become a successful food technologist, one should have an analytical mindset and enjoy technical work. Persons who want to venture in this field should be detail oriented and be capable of expressing themselves clearly. They must also be able to work with teams as well as in other group situations .
Tasks: Food technologists specialize in a certain type of food technology. Most of the people in this field are involved in research and development programs, while others are in charge of quality control laboratories in food manufacturing firms and plants. Food technologists work by researching and recommending methods in food processing and preservation, so that they can keep up with nutritional requirements and standards and not affect the health of their consumers. These days food technologists focus on rather more organic processes and other natural methods of food processing, such as the manufacturing of cereal grains, seafood, animal foods, beverages, dairy products, sugar and starches, stabilizers, meat and poultry. They also work on the formulation of flavors, preservatives, and natural additives.
They research on the composition of food and observe the various changes that take places during storage or processing, so that they can develop new sources of proteins, use microorganisms, and isolate the factors which affect the appearance, consistency and flavor of foods. Some food technologists meanwhile are engaged in applied research, and their tasks include creating new food products, as well as improve existing foods to increase their nutritional value. Other food scientists meanwhile are focused on biotechnology, and they work on plant breeding, gene splicing, plant cell tissue cultures to come up with enhanced raw products for processing.
Earnings and Job Outlook: Food technologists enjoy good income, and at present they earn an average of $51,440 at entry level positions. Median salaries of experienced food scientists range somewhere above $73,150, and they also receive various benefits such as life and medical insurance, pension plans, vacation leaves and sponsored study grants.
Cheska Davenport is a career search strategist who focuses on creating power resumes and providing job search advice that aim to help individuals achieve their target goals in the job market.
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Word Count: 490 Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2010 Time: 3:42 AM
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