3 answers
Sean
Student
Fayetteville, Arkansas
1
Question
Updated
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What kind of careers could I pursue in the food safety field and what all do they entail?
I plan on majoring in food science, food safety and product developement are what really interest me. I know a fair amount about product developement but not a whole lot about food safety. Thank you all in advance!
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2 answers
Katrina Emmel
Chemist/Consultant
1
Answer
Corona, California
Updated
Katrina’s Answer
There are many careers in food safety, depending on what areas of the field interest you. If you like hands-on science, you could work in a laboratory to test foods and food ingredients for purity or for contamination (for example, microbes, heavy metals, residual solvents, etc.). There are also food scientists who specialize in packaging safety and long-term shelf stability studies. Toxicologists study how safe food ingredients are for human and animal consumption. If you prefer more desk-based work, you could specialize in reviewing food toxicology and safety data. There are people who specialize in data analysis and use statistics to evaluate toxicological data and food ingredient consumption and exposure estimates.
In the US, new food ingredients must be evaluated for safety prior to introduction into foods and must undergo a Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) assessment or a Food Additive Petition (FAP). There are similar regulatory review processes in other countries, as well. Consultants assist food manufacturers to undertake these projects. There are also food scientists who work for FDA and other regulatory agencies (USDA, etc.) who review the GRAS and FAP documents, inspect food and ingredient manufacturer facilities, and conduct testing on food samples to ensure a safe food supply.
Some colleges have specific programs for food safety, but a lot of it can also be learned in on-the-job training. For example, if you have a degree in microbiology, a food manufacturer will train you on how to perform internal testing. Some jobs, for example GRAS consulting, are learned through mentorship, so the best way to learn about them would be to reach out to a consultant to ask specific questions.
In the US, new food ingredients must be evaluated for safety prior to introduction into foods and must undergo a Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) assessment or a Food Additive Petition (FAP). There are similar regulatory review processes in other countries, as well. Consultants assist food manufacturers to undertake these projects. There are also food scientists who work for FDA and other regulatory agencies (USDA, etc.) who review the GRAS and FAP documents, inspect food and ingredient manufacturer facilities, and conduct testing on food samples to ensure a safe food supply.
Some colleges have specific programs for food safety, but a lot of it can also be learned in on-the-job training. For example, if you have a degree in microbiology, a food manufacturer will train you on how to perform internal testing. Some jobs, for example GRAS consulting, are learned through mentorship, so the best way to learn about them would be to reach out to a consultant to ask specific questions.
Ompilela Justice Tshiakhatho
Technical Manager _Food and Beverage
2
Answers
Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
Updated
Ompilela Justice’s Answer
If you’re interested in food safety, there are so many exciting directions you can take your career, and your background in food science will give you a great foundation. You could look into roles like food safety coordinator or officer, where you’d be responsible for making sure products and processes meet safety standards and conducting inspections. If you enjoy product development, there are opportunities to work on creating and refining new food products while ensuring they’re safe and high quality. Packaging is another important area, where specialists focus on choosing and testing materials to keep food safe throughout its journey to the consumer. Regulatory affairs is a great path if you like working with laws and compliance, as you’d help companies navigate food regulations and prepare the necessary documentation. If you’re drawn to research and lab work, positions like food microbiologist or lab analyst let you study microorganisms, develop testing methods, and analyze samples to improve food safety. There are also roles in consulting, training, and quality control, where you can help companies implement safety systems and monitor hygiene. These careers exist all over the world and they all require a mix of scientific knowledge, creativity, and problem-solving.