How often do you take note of the "best before," date on the food that you buy? Is there ever a time when you stop and think about the ingredients used in a particular food item? Do you ever question why there is a shortage of eggs in your country? Do you understand why Wagyu beef is more expensive? When do you choose not to buy a product for fear of salmonella poisoning?
If you haven't found yourself asking these questions when shopping for food, that's okay. You may not stop to ponder why a new recipe was created for a food item that you already thought was perfect, but there are people whose entire lives revolve around studying food. The role of the food scientist is to study the very nature, composition as well as decomposition of food. The food scientists spend all their time investigating food- everything from the preservation and packaging of food to the processing of food.
Food scientists understand that the more processes a food item undergoes before preservatives are added and the food is packaged, the more chances there are for food contamination. When we understand food science and all that it entails, we understand how valuable food science is in determining the nutritious value of food and the quality of food. Now that we understand what food science is about, we appreciate all the efforts made by food scientists who ensure that the food we eat doesn't make us sick.
"Lettuce celebrate"- We need to celebrate the fact that we can eat well because the field of food science exists. We need to celebrate those food scientists who make nutritious food choices for us as well.
Exploring Food Science and Food Technology
You always wanted to make your mark in the food industry, however, you were never cut out to be a chef. There is no need to slice away your dreams when the field of food science and food technology could be beckoning you.
In the field of food science, there is a branch called food technology which surely is a piping hot career. Food technologists use cutting edge technology in order to ensure that food products have been produced well and are ready for distribution. When you study food technology, you are focusing on converting raw materials into edible products that people can consume without any harm.
When you choose to study food technology, you are studying food and the processes that food undergoes in terms of:
- physics
- microbiology
- chemistry
- engineering
Your role in food technology would be to ensure that food safety is maintained, and that food is managed well. If you think that a person in the food technology industry has his or her hands full, you would be right. When you choose to work in the food science industry, you are accepting the responsibility of testing the quality of food items. Part of the quality assurance process would be to test samples of food as it makes its way through each step in the production line. Hygiene becomes one of your main priorities and you have to question when lack of hygiene from the farmer to the packer could result in spoilt food.
Food technology means serious responsibility. Are you up for this challenge? Are you responsible enough to embrace this career path?
Few Facts About Food Scientists
If you are considering becoming a food scientist, we have some fun facts about food scientists that may entice you more to become interested in the field.
- Food scientists focus on nutrition. In that way, they look to process and preserve food in healthier and more nutritious ways.
- Majority of food scientists are women, but there are about 30% of male food scientists too.
- People of all race groups are believed to occupy jobs as food scientists throughout the world.
- Research is an integral component of a food scientist's job description.
- You can become a food scientist even if you have a degree in biology, chemistry, nutrition, psychology or even engineering.
- As a food scientist, your job entails proposing something to research and following this research through right until the end.
- Communication is a vital soft skill that you need to have when you choose to become a food scientist.
If the abovementioned facts about food scientists ticked all the requirements of what you can do and what you would like to do, congratulations, food science is the career for you. If you look at how many food scientists are employed in big companies, you will have to admit that it is a rather lucrative career as well.
Tackling the Facts of Food Technologists
Perhaps you ready to dawn the hat of a food technologist. In this case, you will need to know that food technologists busy themselves by:
- Constantly looking for ways to improve flavour combinations and the way food tastes.
- Undergoing tedious research processes in order to ensure that food sent to stores are of a high standard.
- Organising themselves so they reach all the goals of a food project within the required time frame.
- Staying creative enough to think up new ways to package and produce food.
- Being cognitive thinkers, able to problem solve, is necessary since food technologists need to think of a new formulation when the time arises.
Do all the qualities of a food technologist suit you well? If so, it's time to take on your career as a food technologist. We suggest that you speak to one of our Superprof tutors who are already pursuing a career as a food technologist so that you can learn how you can adapt well to this role.
Again, you must remember that the pathway of a food technologist entails focusing on all aspects of science- chemistry, biology, and microbiology. If science does interest you, there is not denying that this is the correct career pathway for you...
As a food scientist and food technologist, you need to bring a variety of degrees, experience, and expertise to the mix. Even though being a food scientist or a food technologist is very different to being a chef, you need to ensure that you have knowledge of food and the best food combinations.
Knowing how to cook and knowing the science of cooking does surely go hand in hand, so we suggest that you take on some cooking classes before you venture into the food science field. You can even reach out to one of our cooking tutors to cook up a storm before scientifically proving why your food products can be used to cook up a storm.
We even have food technologists offering tutorials in the field and assisting with research. Click here to interact with our food technology tutors near you.
How to Pave Your Way Forward in the Food Science and Technology Field?
If the science of food has tickled your taste buds and you are seriously contemplating a career in food science and technology, we can surely guide you. Before you fold up your apron and give up on your dream of stepping into the world of food science and technology, let us tell you how easy it is to pursue this field.
In order to advance as a food scientist or food technologist, you will need to:
- Start by working towards being accepted in university. It would surely help if you took on subjects like science and life sciences at an FET level.
- Once you have gained university admission, study towards a bachelor's degree in any field related to food science. You could also pursue a degree in chemistry and then complete a post graduate degree thereafter.
- Gain experience in the industry as you study. Don't underestimate the difference that being a waiter in the restaurant industry can mean for your career as a food scientist. Look for jobs that are related to working with food whilst maintaining proper hygiene at all times.
- Take cooking classes if you feel that being a novice cook may assist you once you become a food scientist or food technologist.
- Join professional networks that consists of people in the food industry.
- Keep your CV updated so as soon as a job opportunity comes, you can step up to the plate.
- Learn how to do research well and get guidance from tutors as to how to become better at the researching process.
Since you understand what you need to do in order to become a food scientist and food technologist, we would love to tell you that we are behind you every step of the way. In fact, we are so vested in your future career as a food scientist or food technologist that we strongly suggest you get in touch with one of our Superprof food science tutors to understand the intense requirements of being in this field.
Naturally, if you understand what is contained in the curriculum for food scientists and food technologists, it will make your decision of choosing this field much easier. Don't just enjoy a bowl of ready-made oats, study a bowl of ready-made oats!
Everything in food is science. The only subjective part is when you eat it. Alton Brown
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
