Food Science Technician

Overview and Key Facts

What Do They Do?

A food science technician could....

Overview Listen to this section

Good taste, texture, quality, and safety are all very important in the food industry. Food science technicians test and catalog the physical and chemical properties of food to help ensure these aspects.

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of a Food Science Technician?

1. Active Listening: ? Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
2. Reading Comprehension: ? Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
3. Writing: ? Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
4. Speaking: ? Talking to others to convey information effectively.
5. Critical Thinking: ? Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

6. Science: ? Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
7. Quality Control Analysis: ? Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
8. Complex Problem Solving: ? Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
9. Coordination: ? Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
10. Judgment and Decision Making: ? Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks a Food Science Technician might do:

• Record or compile test results or prepare graphs, charts, or reports.
• Conduct standardized tests on food, beverages, additives, or preservatives to ensure compliance with standards and regulations regarding factors such as color, texture, or nutrients.
• Maintain records of testing results or other documents as required by state or other governing agencies.
• Taste or smell foods or beverages to ensure that flavors meet specifications or to select samples with specific characteristics.
• Monitor and control temperature of products.
• Compute moisture or salt content, percentages of ingredients, formulas, or other product factors, using mathematical and chemical procedures.
• Perform regular maintenance of laboratory equipment by inspecting, calibrating, cleaning, or sterilizing.
• Analyze test results to classify products or compare results with standard tables.
• Provide assistance to food scientists or technologists in research and development, production technology, or quality control.
• Train newly hired laboratory personnel.
• Measure, test, or weigh bottles, cans, or other containers to ensure that hardness, strength, or dimensions meet specifications.
• Mix, blend, or cultivate ingredients to make reagents or to manufacture food or beverage products.
• Supervise other food science technicians.