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Food Science Technicians: reported tasks and exploration worksheet

Work with food scientists or technologists to perform standardized qualitative and quantitative tests to determine physical or chemical properties of food or beverage products. Includes technicians who assist in research and development of production technology, quality control, packaging, processing, and use of foods.

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This source lists 16 tasks, including 14 marked Core and 2 marked Supplemental. Labels and dates are retained below. Employers can combine or divide these responsibilities differently; explore the task itself before assuming it belongs in every version of the role.

Task source dates: 08/2023.

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16 tasks shown

Core · Task 7582 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Taste or smell foods or beverages to ensure that flavors meet specifications or to select samples with specific characteristics.

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Core · Task 7585 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Measure, test, or weigh bottles, cans, or other containers to ensure that hardness, strength, or dimensions meet specifications.

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Core · Task 20394 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Maintain records of testing results or other documents as required by state or other governing agencies.

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Core · Task 20395 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Monitor and control temperature of products.

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Core · Task 7581 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Analyze test results to classify products or compare results with standard tables.

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Core · Task 7579 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Record or compile test results or prepare graphs, charts, or reports.

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Core · Task 20396 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Perform regular maintenance of laboratory equipment by inspecting, calibrating, cleaning, or sterilizing.

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Core · Task 7583 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Examine chemical or biological samples to identify cell structures or to locate bacteria or extraneous material, using a microscope.

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Core · Task 7576 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Conduct standardized tests on food, beverages, additives, or preservatives to ensure compliance with standards and regulations regarding factors such as color, texture, or nutrients.

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Core · Task 20397 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Train newly hired laboratory personnel.

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Core · Task 7577 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Provide assistance to food scientists or technologists in research and development, production technology, or quality control.

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Core · Task 22261 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Supervise other food science technicians.

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Core · Task 7578 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Compute moisture or salt content, percentages of ingredients, formulas, or other product factors, using mathematical and chemical procedures.

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Core · Task 7587 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Order supplies needed to maintain inventories in laboratories or in storage facilities of food or beverage processing plants.

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Supplemental · Task 20398 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Prepare or incubate slides with cell cultures.

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Supplemental · Task 7584 · 08/2023 · Incumbent

Mix, blend, or cultivate ingredients to make reagents or to manufacture food or beverage products.

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Make the shortlist useful

Choose one to three activities that tell you something different about the work. Avoid selecting several ways of describing the same interest.
For each, write an example you can discuss or a question that would change your understanding of the role.
Keep source task IDs with your notes so you can return to the same description. Do not include private employer or customer information.

The exported worksheet distinguishes the reported task from your own notes. It supports exploration, not a hiring decision or a validated assessment.

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Download before leaving this page. Unsaved writing remains only in the page and is cleared on refresh. Notes and learning actions are not sent to a server. This guide describes an occupation and supports study planning; it does not provide clinical, legal or equipment-operating procedures.

Source and practice material

Occupational context uses the O*NET® 31.0 Database from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. View the occupation.

Skill Workbench selected and adapted the occupational information and added its own fictional cases, calculations, guidance and worksheets. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these additions. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.