9781422269985

Chapter 1

WHAT DO FOOD SCIENTISTS DO? WHAT IS FOOD SCIENCE?

Food science is an interdisciplinary field in which scientists, engineers, technicians, and other science professionals study the physical, biological, and chemical makeup of foods and beverages, and then develop new or better ways of selecting, preserving, processing, manufacturing, packaging, and distributing food products. People who work in food science have educational backgrounds and training in agriculture, animal science, agronomy, biochemistry, biology, biotechnology, chemistry, engineering, food science, microbiology, nutrition, physics, soil science, and other sciences. Work environments include farms and other outdoor settings, laboratories, research facilities, manufacturing plants, research kitchens, and colleges and universities. A career in food science is intellectually stimulating, rewarding, and even fun if you’re the kind of person who likes to conduct experiments, enjoys crunching numbers and studying data, and making the world a better place. In fact, nearly 70 percent of food scientists who were surveyed by PayScale.com reported being highly satisfied with their careers. The employment outlook remains strong for food scientists. “The demand for food scientists is increasing as our world becomes more focused on the vital role that food plays in the well-being of individuals,

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