Intro to Food Science Careers

Objectives Make students aware of the different Areas within the food science industry and the jobs associated with them.

Product Development Focus on creating new or improved food products Can work with nutritionists to help find ways in maintaining nutrients in foods Product development introduces on average 20,000 new or improved food products each year – 10% are totally new concepts

Product Development Can also involves looking for foods that are healthier to eat – Foods with less fat and sugar Jobs included – Food technicians – Food Scientists – Food Technologists – Dietitians – Nutritionists

Quality Assurance Concerned with the quality of food Keeping food wholesome until consumption Jobs Involved – Packers – Transportation

Production Involves processing and preserving Locations include canneries and frozen food plants Most factory work includes – Sorting – Grading – Fabricating – Packaging – Sanitation – Shipping Jobs include – Line worker – Production manager – Plant supervisor

Sales and Service Selling food products or materials to use to produce products – Restaurants – Catering Services Jobs include – Advertising – Restaurant trainer – Salesman

Regulation and compliance Enforcing regulations to protect the interests of costumers Usually Government jobs Inspect – Processing plants – Handling Facilities – Food Samples Most work for USDA, FDA, EPA

Food Service Preparing and Serving food Jobs include – Restaurant chefs – Fast food There are millions of jobs in this area and are not limited to Fast food cooks.

Food Scientist A person who is trained in the theory of food systems – Chemistry – Physics – Biology Interests in preserving the integrity of the food system

Education Requirements Usually must obtain advanced degrees from college – Masters or PhD – Major is commonly in food science but can branch out to specialty areas Meet Science Brewing Science Food Safety

Skills Needed Research Skills – Systematically asking questions and seeking answers Understanding of the scientific method – Identify problem – Collect Data – Hypothesis – Experiment – Conclusion

Nature of Work Often involved with food product development – Imitation Crab Over 20,000 new food products each year are created – Do they all reach the supermarket? – Who Decides this The Consumer! Also involved in food safety – The security of food is a thriving industry due to bioterrorism threats

Location of Work Universities – Teachers Food Industries – Product Developers Government Agencies – Food Safety

Food Technologist Similar of food scientists – Concentrated on short- term problem solving of food issues Machine operation Developing methods of production

Education College Degree In Food Science – Bachelor at the least – Masters is encouraged Sometimes can major in biology or chemistry Can specialize in different disciplines – Dairy – Meat Engineering background is encouraged in some areas

Nature of Work Concerned with mass production of food and the problems involved – Thousands of pounds of product per hour – Problems with production can cost business large sums of money Works with food scientist closely when new products are made – Why?

Nature of Work Also Focused of quality Assurance – The whole process is monitored for start to finish that meats all health and safety guidelines

Location of Work Universities – Help food scientist conduct experiments on new products and production Food Industries – Larges employer of technologists – Production, development and tech service Government Agencies – Food production products for military and other branches of government