Have you ever wondered how food and beverage manufacturers come up with new flavors? It’s usually with the help of a lab technician. While the largest employers of lab technicians are hospitals and medical labs, food and beverage companies also hire lab technicians. If you’re thinking of becoming a lab tech, you might be interested in learning more about this unique place to work.
What Food and Beverage Lab Techs Do
Lab technicians help food scientists by testing food and food additives to ensure that they comply with established safety standards and are fit for consumption. Technicians also help scientists research and develop the chemical properties of food to come up with new ingredients and formulas.
In addition to analyzing results and preparing reports, technicians are responsible for preparing and maintaining quantities of chemicals needed to perform laboratory tests. Lab techs are also responsible for maintaining a safe, sterile laboratory environment.
How to Become a Food and Beverage Lab Technician
If you are interested in training to become a food lab technicians you should train at an accredited program to learn the skills and processes that are required for the specialized environment of a laboratory. Once hired, technicians will undergo on-the-job training to help them learn the specific skills needed for the role.
Successful lab technicians should also possess several personal traits, including being very detail-oriented and have analytical skills. For example, food lab technicians will need to make a variety of observations and on-site measurements, which require precision and accuracy.
Lab technicians also need to be critical thinkers. Agricultural and food science technicians will need to form conclusions based on reasoning and judgment and discover ways to improve food quality for taste and safety standards.
Finally, technicians should have physical stamina. Working in a food lab usually requires standing for long periods of time. Techs may also need to lift heavy objects for testing.
If you’re considering a career as a lab technician within the healthcare arena, or in a different industry beyond the medical field, Fortis’s career-focused Lab Technician program may be for you. Submit the form on this page and one of our career counselors will help you determine your options.