Use chemistry, microbiology, engineering, and other sciences to study the principles underlying the processing and deterioration of foods; analyze food content to determine levels of vitamins, fat, sugar, and protein; discover new food sources; research ways to make processed foods safe, palatable, and healthful; and apply food science knowledge to determine best ways to process, package, preserve, store, and distribute food.

• Food Technologist

• Check raw ingredients for maturity or stability for processing and finished products for safety, quality, and nutritional value.
• Confer with process engineers, plant operators, flavor experts, and packaging and marketing specialists to resolve problems in product development.
• Demonstrate products to clients.
• Develop food standards and production specifications, safety and sanitary regulations, and waste management and water supply specifications.
• Develop new or improved ways of preserving, processing, packaging, storing, and delivering foods, using knowledge of chemistry, microbiology, and other sciences.
• Evaluate food processing and storage operations and assist in the development of quality assurance programs for such operations.
• Inspect food processing areas to ensure compliance with government regulations and standards for sanitation, safety, quality, and waste management standards.
• Search for substitutes for harmful or undesirable additives, such as nitrites.
• Study methods to improve aspects of foods, such as chemical composition, flavor, color, texture, nutritional value, and convenience.
• Study the structure and composition of food or the changes foods undergo in storage and processing.
• Test new products for flavor, texture, color, nutritional content, and adherence to government and industry standards.

• adhere to safety procedures
• advise clients or customers
• advise governmental or industrial personnel
• analyze biological research, test, or analysis data
• analyze chemical experimental, test, or analysis data or findings
• analyze engineering design problems
• analyze engineering test data
• analyze scientific research data or investigative findings
• classify plants, animals, or other natural phenomena
• collect scientific or technical data
• communicate technical information
• compile numerical or statistical data
• conduct analyses or tests of organic compounds
• conduct analyses to determine physical properties of materials
• conduct field research or investigative studies
• conduct laboratory research or experiments
• conduct standardized qualitative laboratory analyses
• conduct standardized quantitative laboratory analyses
• confer with engineering, technical or manufacturing personnel
• confer with research personnel
• confer with scientists
• cultivate micro-organisms for study, testing, or medical preparations
• determine specifications
• determine the quality of food or beverages
• develop new products based on scientific research results
• develop or maintain databases
• develop plans for programs or projects
• develop policies, procedures, methods, or standards
• develop safety regulations
• develop scientific or mathematical hypotheses, theories, or laws
• develop tables depicting data
• direct and coordinate scientific research or investigative studies
• direct implementation of new procedures, policies, or programs
• evaluate manufacturing or processing systems
• examine biological or other material specimens under microscope
• explain complex mathematical information
• follow microbiology procedures
• identify nutritional value of foods
• isolate and identify micro-organisms
• maintain established procedures concerning quality assurance
• maintain records, reports, or files
• make decisions
• make presentations
• perform statistical analysis
• plan scientific research or investigative studies
• prepare reports
• prepare sample for laboratory testing, analysis, or microscopy
• prepare technical reports or related documentation
• provide expert testimony on research results
• recognize plant diseases
• recommend further study or action based on research data
• recommend improvements to work methods or procedures
• record test results, test procedures, or inspection data
• resolve engineering or science problems
• select food or beverage samples with specific characteristics
• understand engineering data or reports
• use biological research techniques
• use biological testing instruments
• use chemical testing or analysis procedures
• use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
• use government regulations
• use health or sanitation standards
• use knowledge of investigation techniques
• use knowledge of metric system
• use laboratory equipment
• use library or online Internet research techniques
• use mathematical or statistical methods to identify or analyze problems
• use microscope
• use precision measuring tools or equipment
• use quality assurance techniques
• use quantitative research methods
• use relational database software
• use scientific research methodology
• use spreadsheet software
• use statistics in food research
• use word processing or desktop publishing software
• write business project or bid proposals
• write research or project grant proposals
• write scholarly or technical research papers