Food Scientist
Food scientists investigate and analyse food, from harvest to processing, cooking, and consumption. They may be involved in:
- Providing accurate nutritional information for food labels, for example fat, sugar and vitamin content
- Managing sensory research that finds out whether people like the taste, look and feel of new products
- Checking the safety and quality of food
- Researching consumers’ perceptions of food
What's the difference between food science and food technology? Food science is the study of the physical, biological and chemical makeup of food and the concepts underlying food processing methods. Food technology is the application of food science to the preservation, processing and packaging of food, and the development of new food products. In New Zealand, many people with qualifications in food science work as food technologists, so the difference is not absolutely clear-cut.
Food scientists are often employed by:
- Research organisations, such as Plant & Food Research, AgResearch and universities
- Food manufacturers, including large companies – Fonterra, Heinz Wattie’s and Nestle, for example – and smaller companies such as the Kiwi Ice Cream Company
Food scientists typically earn:
- $40-50,000 starting salary
- $45-65,000 with two to three years’ experience
- $65-95,000 with five or more years’ experience
Key tertiary qualifications:
- Bachelor of Science, Applied Science or Technology in Food Science (three years)
- Bachelor of Food Technology (four years)
- A Master’s degree or PhD is generally required for work in a research role
Recommended and required school subjects:
- Chemistry (required for Food Technology pathway)
- Biology
- Calculus (required for Food Technology pathway)
- Physics (required for Food Technology pathway)
- English
- Statistics & Modelling
Careers New Zealand: Food Technologist
Other job roles you may be interested in:
Explore industries:
- Primary Industries
- Research + Development
- Healthcare Technology
- Biotechnology
- Dairy Industry
- Food Industry
- Manufacturing + Processing
- Processing + Commercialising
Food Scientist: People who work in this role
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Kirsty Harris
Trang Duong
Amy Overington
Fiona van Loon
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Tanyaradzwa E Mungure (Ta)
Vic Chiang
Pui Yee Lee
Sze Ying Leong
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Tracey Feary
Judie Farr
Sandhya Wadhwa
Food Scientist: Companies that employ people in this job role
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Cawthron Institute
Ministry for Primary Industries
Harraways
Hill Laboratories
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Zespri International
Sealord
Dairy Goat Cooperative
Constantia Foods
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Silver Fern Farms
Sanitarium
Plant & Food Research
Frucor
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Fisher & Paykel Appliances
McCain Foods (NZ)
Heinz Wattie's
Cerebos Gregg's
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Fonterra
Tasti Products
Westland Milk Products
Hansells
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Hubbards Foods
Futureintech is an initiative of Engineering New Zealand, funded by Callaghan Innovation
