What Does a Food Technologist Do?
How does food arrive in safe, palatable condition at grocery stores, upscale dining establishments and fast food restaurants? Most of us don't know that food technologists are largely responsible. Food technologists devise preservation, packaging, processing and distribution techniques that keep foods safe to eat. They must follow regulations and specifications of the industry and the federal government.
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Food Science
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A food technologist usually begins his career with a bachelor's degree in agricultural science. Food technologists base their work on the study of food science. Food science uses biology, chemistry and the physical sciences to study the components of food, how to process it and how it deteriorates.
Product Development
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Many food technologists work in product development creating recipes. The work centers on ingredients (existing and just discovered) and technologies that can produce new food concepts, new recipes or modify existing food processes to create new products. Fat-free foods are an example of a modified product. According to the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 14 percent of food technologists work for federal, state or local governments.
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Manufacturing Food
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The Institute of Food Technologists states that food processing is the largest manufacturing industry in the United States based on the value of the shipments sent. Food technologists are involved in designing how food is manufactured. The machinery and processes they design must deliver consistency in the final product--color, texture, taste and appearance. Consumers need to be able to recognize and trust their food source.
Setting Food Standards
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Food technologists set standards for producing and packaging foodstuffs. This can include creating and monitoring hygienic standards for the handling of food and for its storage, processing and packaging. Food technologists may also manage the maintenance and daily cleaning of machinery used in a processing plant; the transportation of food such as milk, meat and vegetables; and overall quality control. Nutritional value and shelf life are also within the domain of a food technologist.
Food Specialization
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A food technologist can specialize in a particular type of food---dairy, seafood, meat. He can also work in the marketing of food, research and development of new food sources or the actual growing of food. Food technologists wanting to pursue research or teaching need a Master's degree or a Ph.D.
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