Food Technologist

What is a Food Technologist? 

A Food Technologist is not a Chef or a Dietician!

Food Technologist are scientists and they’re in demand!

Food Technology is the scientific study of the large-scale production and preservation of foods as well as the development and analysis of foodstuffs in industrial food processing facilities.

Food Technologists apply scientific methods to:

  • food selection
  • preserving
  • processing flavourful and nutritious food
  • packaging
  • distribution
  • hygiene (meeting government standards)

They  usually work behind the scenes in factories manufacturing food products on industrial scale.

3 Areas of Food Technology:

  • food microbiology
  • food chemistry
  • food engineering

Food Technologists fulfil important roles in food manufacturing companies. They’re responsible for quality control, production management and new product development.

What does a Food Technologist do?

  • ensure food is produced safely and hygienically
  • follow government quality and safety standards
  • develop new manufacturing processes
  • invent new recipes for foods and drinks
  • use newly discovered ingredients
  • modify foods to improve them (eg – reduce the fat content for health reasons)
  • work closely with product development teams and packaging consultants
  • conduct scientific experiments
  • create samples
  • work with various flavours and textures
  • work within budgets
  • review sustainability programmes

Are you . . . ?

  • interested in science?
  • passionate about food production?
  • responsible?
  • detail orientated?
  • methodical?
  • patient?

How do I become a Food Technologist?

  • UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG

3 year National Diploma, BTech and MTech in Food Technology

Compulsory subjects: Mathematics, Physical Science and Life Science

http://www.uj.ac.za/EN/Faculties/science/departments/foodtech/Pages/default.aspx

  • CAPE PENINSULA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

http://www.cput.ac.za/academic/faculties/appliedsciences/prospectus/course?i=217&seo=TkQ6IEZPT0QgVEVDSE5PTE9HWQ==

  • TSHWANE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

http://www.tut.ac.za/Students/facultiesdepartments/science/departments/biofoodandtech/

  • DURBAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

http://www.dut.ac.za/taxonomy/term/56

 

For more information:

  • SAAFoST: South African Association for Food Science and Technology

http://www.saafost.org.za/

 

OTHER CAREERS TO CONSIDER:  Pastry Chef or Toxicologist

Is becoming a Food Technologist the right career choice for me?

See below for more info.