Do like inventing new food? Are you often concerned about the nutritional value of the food you eat, and make changes so it’s healthier? Do you like trying out new experiments and combinations with food, but don’t want to become a professional chef (maybe because you tend to burn too much food)? Well, you have another career path option to satisfy the inner experimental foodie tech in you – and that’s becoming a food technologist. Read this article to know all about becoming a food technologist – what they do, how you could become, and what kind of you could work in.
What does a typical Food Technologist do?
Food technologists work to ensure food products are meet safety standards and safe to eat. Many of them are also involved in the development of new food and beverage recipes. Food technologists also modify existing foods to increase their nutritional values, or make easier foods that can be manufactured easier, as compared to conventional kitchen cooking processes.
Right Skill = Bright Future
A typical day of a food technologist involves the following responsibilities –
- Modifying already existing products and manufacturing processes to make better or new ones
- Checking and improving safety and quality control (QC) procedures of the at all stages, right from the raw material suppliers until the final product
- Designing processes and machinery so that when products are manufactured in large quantities consistent flavor, texture and colour are maintained
- Researching markets trends, consumer behavior and the latest technologies for developing new product concepts
- Selecting and making sure a steady chain of the required raw material is received from the supplier’s end
- Based on the expenses and costs raw materials and manufacturing, calculating final product cost for ensuring profits
- Dealing with customer complaints or any product issues
- Inspecting and approving labelling and specifications of the products
- Coordinating new food products launches
- Running trials of newly developed food products
- Creating innovative packaging technologies
- Managing internal audits
- Building healthy relationships with suppliers as well as customers
What are the qualifications to become a food technologist?
At 10+2 level, science stream with subjects like Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics is needed. Next in under graduation, you could choose to take one of the following courses –
You could either choose to continue on to doing a post-graduation so that your scopes improve, or look for job opportunities after under graduation. For working in research laboratories, or academia, a Ph. D. is necessary. Some institutes that offer courses at various UG, PG, and Ph. D. levels include –
- Anna University, Chennai
- Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Mysore
- Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Agricultural Vishvavidyalaya, Palampur
- Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pant Nagar
- Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar
- Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT-K)
- Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai
- National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI)
- Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women University (Churchgate)
- SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai
- University of Delhi (DU), New Delhi
What are the skills needed to become a food technologist?
Like every other job, food technologists require a particular skill set. This includes the following skills –
- Interested and have love for food
- Sound knowledge of food processing and production
- Know about safety and quality standards of food
- Excellent communication skills, both written and oral
- The ability to work in a team
- Confidence
- The ability to work independently
- Good attention to detail
- Strong analytical as well as numerical skills
- Ability to work under pressure
- Problem solving skills
Where are food technologists hired?
Food technologists are needed in food related businesses at all stages – from supplies, manufacturing, marketing and even quality assurance. They are employed in the following sectors –
- Food and Beverage Departments
- Food Business Management
- Food Marketing
- Food Processing and Production Companies
- Food Safety Manufacturing Units
- Processing and Distributing Units
- Quality Assurance (QA) Units
- Research Laboratories
- Storage Units
Food is an inevitable part of our lives. With changing times and technologies, our food eating behaviors and styles have also changed. To meet the demands of consumers and the changing trends, food technologists are required not only to ensure supply meets the demand, but also to make sure that the food is safe as well.
