Average Food Technologist Salary in Anaheim, California

Job Description for Food Technologist

A food technologist usually works for a company that produces food. The technologist may be tasked with coming up with new types of foods or flavors. The technologist will prepare prototypes of foods. These foods will be tested to make sure that they are fit for human consumption.

Then the foods will be tested by human test panels. The people on the panels may be asked to taste the food and to provide input on changes that could be made. These changes may be taken into consideration. If the food is successful in this phase, then plans for production may be made. Evaluations into the nutritional content should be carried out, so that nutritional content panels and product label claims can be created. An evaluation of shelf life expectancies should also be carried out. The technologist should attempt to keep costs low without sacrificing quality. It is essential to make sure that raw materials meet certain safety and quality standards. The technologist may be present during the purchasing phase of the project, in order to bargain with vendors. The foods that are created will be monitored on the market to understand if they are successful or not.

A bachelor’s degree in food science may be needed. Strong communication skills are needed, as it is necessary to collaborate with a variety of parties to make projects come to realization. Experience is usually necessary in this job, which can usually be obtained from apprenticeships or previous employment. (Copyright 2019 PayScale.com)

• Identify, monitor, and report on quality and composition of foods.
• Optimize the taste and texture of a product.
• Plan production procedures by extrapolating from prototypes and calculations.
• Record data, procedures, and findings.
• Collect samples and data to document fit to specifications.

Food Technologist Job Listings