What Are Some Career Opportunities
in Food Science?
Food science programs in
the United States mainly evolved from dairy
manufacturing (science) programs. The discipline
emerged to including not only dairy science,
but also meat science, cereal science, seafood
science, and the study of fruit and vegetable
products.
The food industry is one
of the largest manufacturing industries in
the United States, employing about 2 million
people with an additional 14 million being
employed in other food-related fields. Based
on the dollar value of products shipped, the
food processing industry is the largest in
the United States contributing more than $350
billion to the gross national product. The
enormous size of the industry and its need
for professional scientists make it possible
to find a wide variety of satisfying careers.
The food industry is growing
steadily as the consumer demands for convenient,
safe and nutritious food/beverages increase.
This growth is evident by the 70,000 new food
products that were introduced in the 1980s
and the more than 170,000 new food products
predicated to be introduced between 1990 and
2000. This increase in consumer demands for
greater varieties of nutritious and convenience
foods of uniformly high quality along with
an increased emphasis on food safety and the
use of new energy- and cost efficient technologies
in the processing of foods are creating many
varied career opportunities in the food and
allied industries.
Employment with a Bachelor
degree in Food Science includes positions with
food and allied industries, government and
independent research institutions. Employment
can be found with companies that manufacture
retail food products as well as companies supporting
food manufactures by supplying food ingredients,
processing equipment and packaging materials,
or providing services related to institutional
feeding. Technical and administrative position
are also available in various government agencies
and with independent testing laboratories.
Food science graduates hold teaching, research
and extension positions with colleges and universities.
Governmental agencies employ food scientists
whose work is directed towards research, regulatory
control and the development of food standards.
The role of the food scientist
in such positions may involve management, process
supervision, production and process development,
quality control/quality assurance, technical
services and sales, procurement, distribution,
marketing, advertising, merchandising, public
health and regulatory service, basic and applied
research, consulting, government food inspection,
trade association activities, and promotional
and educational services.
University of Kentucky food
scientists have found employment throughout
the United States and in several other countries.
WHAT ARE SALARIES LIKE? Because
of the constant need for qualified food scientists,
salaries are generally equal to or higher than
those of other professions requiring equivalent
levels of education. From a recent survey of
Food Scientists with a B.S. degree, mean annual
salaries were $75,000. Mean starting salaries
were $45,000.
