Description
Apply chemistry, microbiology, and engineering to research ingredients and food systems; analyze composition and nutrients; develop and improve safe, palatable, and healthful products; and optimize processing, packaging, preservation, storage, and distribution in compliance with regulations.
- • Test new and existing products for flavor, texture, color, nutrient content, and regulatory compliance.
- • Evaluate raw materials for maturity and processing stability; verify finished goods meet safety, quality, and nutrition targets.
- • Collaborate with process engineers, plant operators, flavor experts, packaging, quality, and marketing to resolve development and scale-up issues.
- • Assess processing and storage operations and help develop or improve quality assurance programs.
- • Research methods to enhance chemical composition, flavor, color, texture, nutritional value, and convenience.
- • Study food structure and the changes foods undergo during processing and storage.
- • Develop and optimize preservation, processing, packaging, storage, and distribution methods using food science principles.
- • Establish product standards, formulations, and production specifications; support safety, sanitation, waste, and water requirements.
- • Inspect food processing areas and trials to ensure compliance with sanitation, safety, quality, and waste-management regulations.
- • Identify and validate substitutes for harmful or undesirable additives and ingredients.
- • Create new food items and line extensions based on consumer insights and testing.
- • Stay current with scientific literature and food regulations; document work, analyze data, and report results to stakeholders.
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
