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Food scientists and food technologists develop food and drink products, making sure they are safe to consume.
You could work: evenings; on shifts
As a food scientist, you'll:
As a food technologist, you'll:
You may need to wear protective clothing.
You could work at a research facility or in a laboratory.
You can get into this job through:
You'll usually need a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in:
Employers may also accept other subjects like chemistry or nutrition.
If you have a degree in an unrelated subject, you could study a postgraduate course like food safety or food quality management.
Experience of working in a food science or food development environment, for example through an industrial placement, may improve your career prospects.
You'll usually need:
You may be able to do a food technologist advanced apprenticeship then move on to a food industry technical professional degree apprenticeship.
You'll usually need:
You could start as a food technician or lab assistant with a food manufacturer and study for further qualifications while you work.
You can find out more about becoming a food scientist from the Institute of Food Science and Technology.
You could work for a range of organisations involved in researching and developing new products, including:food manufacturers and supermarkets; government and university research establishments; local authorities
You could improve your career prospects by getting Registered Scientist (RSci) or Chartered Scientist (CSci) status through the Institute of Food Science and Technology.
With experience you could become a project leader or manage a department like research and development or quality control. You could also move into fields like chemical engineering, agricultural research, toxicology or nutrition science.