According to people in this career, the main tasks are...
| Task | Importance |
|---|---|
| Taste or smell foods or beverages to ensure that flavors meet specifications or to select samples with specific characteristics. | 93% |
| Measure, test, or weigh bottles, cans, or other containers to ensure that hardness, strength, or dimensions meet specifications. | 90% |
| Maintain records of testing results or other documents as required by state or other governing agencies. | 88% |
| Monitor and control temperature of products. | 87% |
| Analyze test results to classify products or compare results with standard tables. | 86% |
| Record or compile test results or prepare graphs, charts, or reports. | 85% |
| Prepare or incubate slides with cell cultures. | 85% |
| Perform regular maintenance of laboratory equipment by inspecting, calibrating, cleaning, or sterilizing. | 84% |
| Examine chemical or biological samples to identify cell structures or to locate bacteria or extraneous material, using a microscope. | 83% |
| Conduct standardized tests on food, beverages, additives, or preservatives to ensure compliance with standards and regulations regarding factors such as color, texture, or nutrients. | 83% |
| Mix, blend, or cultivate ingredients to make reagents or to manufacture food or beverage products. | 79% |
| Train newly hired laboratory personnel. | 78% |
| Provide assistance to food scientists or technologists in research and development, production technology, or quality control. | 78% |
| Supervise other food science technicians. | 75% |
| Compute moisture or salt content, percentages of ingredients, formulas, or other product factors, using mathematical and chemical procedures. | 75% |
| Order supplies needed to maintain inventories in laboratories or in storage facilities of food or beverage processing plants. | 74% |
