Food Scientist

Think

Everything in food is science. The only subjective part is when you eat it. 

Alton Brown 
Food Scientist

In A Nutshell

I conduct and help with research involving food. 

I use my knowledge of chemistry and biology to improve the production or processing of food. 

I create reports and make suggestions for companies so they can increase how nutritional their food is while keeping their costs down.

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Potential Salary Range

$38,000 - 74,000 Annually

Which provinces would this job be in?

Alberta AB
Alberta
British Columbia BC
British Columbia
Manitoba MB
Manitoba
New Brunswick NB
New Brunswick
Newfoundland & Labrador NL
Newfoundland & Labrador
Nova Scotia NS
Nova Scotia
Ontario ON
Ontario
Prince Edward Island PEI
Prince Edward Island
Quebec QC
Quebec
Saskwatchewan SK
Saskwatchewan

My work is split between the lab and office. The lab is where I do most of the actual data collection and research, and is very hands-on. The office is where I do data analysis and write reports, which is a very different environment from the lab. 

Workplace

Indoor

Job Requirements & Duties

  • Do experiments on ingredients or products to test for safety and nutrition
  • Decide on what processes to use to preserve various foods based on their chemistry
  • Figure out ways to improve products based on their nutrition, shelf life, or packaging
  • Determine the nutritional value of products for packaging
  • Organize sensory tests to get feedback on flavour and texture
  • Write reports about the results of experiments and suggest how companies should move forward with their production 

Education & Training

  • A university degree in food science, food technology, or a related field is required for this job. A masters degree would be a valuable edge up on competition. 
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Job Outlook

    The outlook for this job is considered fair; while experts are predicting that there will be many jobs in this field becoming available, there will be lots of competition for those jobs. 

Related School Subjects

Science
Ed. Prof. et Tech.
Career Education

What words come to mind when thinking about this career?

Nutrition Chemistry Research Experimenting Food

Important Skills

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Detail-Oriented

The goal as a food scientist is to make discoveries and investigations about food. Having a scientific or research-minded way of thinking is definitely an important part of the job.

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Problem Solving

Sometimes with food science, answers don’t always appear right away. It’s valuable to be the kind of person who will keep working towards a solution.

Detail-Oriented icon

Detail-Oriented

When working with food, it’s often the little details like nuances in smell or taste that make a difference, so being observant with details is a must.

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Interpersonal

Having professional relationships with people is part of the job, so feeling comfortable communicating with customers, industry experts, and technicians is important. 

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The Best Things About This Job Are…

Pays Well
Helps Others
Continuous Learning
Has Business Perks
Making a Difference in the World