| FFA Nation

Get a Taste of Food Science

Jessica Mozo | 01/27/2010 |

If you love food (and let’s face it – who doesn’t?) and have a knack for science too, then a career in food science might be for you. For starters, it’s a growing career field, so jobs are plentiful.

“People always have to eat, so food companies will always be around,” says Carol Cooper, undergraduate advising associate for the Food Science and Technology Department at the University of California – Davis. “There will always be jobs in food science, especially in quality assurance and food safety. Food scientists produce food, ensure its safety, develop new food products – anything to do with food until it gets to your stomach.”

There are lots of different types of jobs in food science, ranging from overseeing production lines, working in a lab or hands-on food manufacturing, so the industry has something for people of all interests. “The food science industry incorporates food chemistry, food microbiology, food safety, nutrition, food processing and food technologies,” says Donna Keener, academic coordinator for the Food Science Department at Purdue University. “Some of our graduates go into product development, processing, regulatory agencies, management, sales and more. There’s a place for every personality.”

Cool Careers
Even better than the variety of jobs in the industry is the fact that many of them are really cool. Food scientists develop new products, test new flavors and colors, and even make ice cream, candy and soft drinks.

“There are lots of cool jobs. How about the student that graduated a few years ago and recently developed the Nestle Nerd Jelly Beans?” says Rich Hartel, a professor in the Department of Food Science at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. “Another student develops new cookies for Target’s brand Archer Farms. Another recent grad develops new products for Wrigley and is traveling in Russia to work with factory production.”

Martin Yan, famous chef and host of the national cooking show “Yan Can Cook,” received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in food science at the University of California – Davis. And Cooper says he’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all the amazing things their food science graduates are doing.

Securing our Safe Supply
If you’re considering a job in food science, an especially “hot” career may be in food safety.

“The food safety issue is becoming more important in consumers’ minds,” says Ed Schafer, former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. “As a result, there is a need for more inspectors, more research, more warehouses and more good food handling practices. And we now have a new element – terrorism. We have scientists looking at how to prevent terrorism, but also how to respond.”

Schafer adds, “There are even jobs that many people don’t realize are food-science related.” He gives an example of Dr. Katherine Ralston, a recent veterinary graduate who is now employed with the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a food safety inspector, a different application to her veterinary degree than what one might consider.

Starting Now
As the name implies, a food science major involves lots of science. It includes required courses such as general and organic chemistry, biological sciences, physics, calculus, and statistics as well as optional courses such as meat science, dairy science and quality assurance.

If food science interests you, you can make the most of your high school years by taking as many upper-level science courses as possible. Especially important are chemistry and biology. “That’s also a way students can make sure science is what they really like,” Cooper says.

Experience is also a good gauge of your interest. “Internships are vital,” Schafer adds. “Seek out internship opportunities and summer jobs. They often tell you if you like a certain career or not. The practical application of what you’ve learned helps prepare you for any career in this industry.”

More information on food science can be found at the Institute of Food Technologists, a nonprofit society with 22,000 members working in the food industry. The organization offers more than 40 undergraduate college scholarships for which incoming freshmen can apply.

“The field is growing quickly,” Keener says. “We have 100 percent job placement, and many of our grads have more than one offer when they graduate. It’s a very good job market and will continue to be – people will always need to eat.”