3/22/23, 6:07 PM Food Science: What It Is and Why It Matters | Coursera

Articles Health Food Science: What It Is and Why It Matters

Food Science: What It Is and Why It Matters

Written by Coursera • Updated on Dec 15, 2022 Share

Food science is essentially science applied to food. Learn all about food science and why it
matters.

When it comes to what we eat and how we eat it, one of the earliest forms of food science is
fermentation. As far back as 7000-6600 BCE, there’s evidence of fermenting alcoholic
beverages from rice, fruit, and honey in China, and wine in Georgia. Nearly every continent
has experimented with fermentation, including Korean kimchi, Germany’s version of
fermented cabbage (sauerkraut), yogurts, and cheeses. 

Despite centuries old techniques, the field and study of food science is relatively new.
Sparked by social changes around the world, it’s also a growing field.The way that food is
prepared continues to evolve, though some traditions have stayed the same. Companies now
make it easier for people to feed themselves on the go, whether it’s a McDonald’s burger or a
pre-packaged salad from Tesco. Even at home, microwavable dinners and ready-quick rice or
pasta have become household mainstays. 

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Food science dives into what people choose to eat and why, and how raw foods can be
transformed into safe, nutritious, and delicious foods. Learn all about food science and why it
matters.

What is food science?

Food science is a multidisciplinary field of study (and practice) that involves applying
chemistry, nutrition, microbiology, chemical engineering, and physics to food, food groups,
and the food system. 

Within the discipline, there is a strong emphasis on the chemistry of food, such as
carbohydrates, proteins, fats, water, and fiber, and how they are processed and stored in the
body. Then, there’s the field that is concerned with the methods of preserving and processing
food, like freezing, drying, farming, pasteurizing, dehydrating, and canning. Some fields in
food science deal with food safety, while others focus on modern ways of processing and
developing food, such as genetically engineered foods, flavor chemistry, packaging, and
more.

What do humans eat and why do we eat it? Why and how do we transform raw meat (from
livestock) and produce (from farm crops) into edible food? What is the importance of
restaurants in modern society? These are the questions that food scientists seek to answer.

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The Science of Gastronomy

The Science of Gastronomy

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

4.6 (698 ratings) | 88K Students Enrolled

Enroll for Free

5 fields within food science

Within the discipline, there are fields that you could concentrate on if you were to become a
food scientist or study food science.

Sensory science: Sensory science and analysis refers to how people evaluate flavors,
appearance, and textures of food. In this field, scientists might develop new food products
and flavors that are more nutritious or convenient, such as an all-organic frozen lasagna or a
new cereal flavor. Others might conduct a focus group of consumers to conduct quantitative
descriptive analysis, in which participants assign numerical scores to sensory attributes.

Nutrition: Some food scientists focus on identifying ways to maintain food’s nutritional
content while also making it tasty. This might involve fortifying foods with vitamins or folic
acid or helping to create a marketing scheme around tomato recipes, because studies have
shown that heating tomatoes raises its lycopene content [1].

Read more: How to Become a Nutritionist: A Guide

Food chemistry: Understanding food chemistry is important to making foods healthier. By

knowing the structure of raw ingredients, food chemists can help increase a product’s shelf
life, ensure consistent texture, and deliver simpler ways to process food. You might study the
enzymes of milk in order to develop ways to keep cow’s milk from spoiling. You could also
increase the fiber content of a cracker.

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The science of meat production

As meat continues to be demanded by most of the world’s diets, there is a
growing need to peer behind the scenes of meat production. The course
Sustainable Food Production Through Livestock Health Management from the
University of Illinois provides learners with a strong scientific understanding of
food production and its impact, as well as how it can be done more
sustainably. Another course The Meat We Eat gives an overview of the US and
European meat industries, meat inspection and food safety, and quality and
packaging.

Microbiology: This field studies how microorganisms like bacteria, yeast, and mold interact
with food. Food safety specialists might learn microbiology to understand how to eliminate
bad bacteria and mold from foods, and then conduct testing to ensure consistency within its
supply chain (from processing to transport to retail channels to customers). Fermented foods
is another study within microbiology, of dairy products, soy, beverages, vegetables, and
more.

Engineering and processing: Food engineers play an important role in transforming raw
ingredients into safe, nutritious food. Process engineers then help to maintain flavor, color,
and shelf life, like creating identical candy bars and deciding on what material the wrapper is
made of. This involves packaging, like vacuum-sealed meats and even genetically modifying
apples to grow thicker skins. 

Sustainable Food Production Through Livestock Health Management

Course

Beginner level · 1 month(s)

Skills you'll build: Disease Control, Animal, Nutrition, Animal Behavior

4.8 (522 ratings)

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Careers in food science

Of the five fields above, there are plenty of job opportunities to work within food science.
While some food scientists focus on new product development, others work to promote the
quality or safety of certain types of food. 

Food chemist

Food chemists conduct research and assist product developers decide how a particular food
should taste, smell, or look like. They might, for example, work with a baked beans company
to ensure the beans’ texture isn’t too mushy and that they look appetizing out of the can. 

Food scientist

Another food scientist might find work at a Nestle factory in quality control of chocolate bars,
ensuring each bar is the same size, shape, color, and taste. Some food scientists could end up
in a marketing or sales department explaining the difference between sugar and Stevia.
Others could be to work for the US Food and Drug Administration to determine the safety and
saleability of processed food, produce, raw ingredients, and prescription drugs.

Researchers and product managers

Due to the wide variety of fields within food science, you can choose from careers as diverse
as a food science researcher conducting focus groups, a flavor chemist at Nestle deciding on
the sensory profiles of a new chocolate, or a product manager at a food and beverage
technology start-up. Where you take your food science career depends on your specific goals
and interests.

Becoming a food scientist

Become a food scientist by earning a bachelor’s degree in food science or a related field.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, most agricultural and food scientists need at
least a bachelor’s degree, though many earn master’s degrees or PhDs [2].

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Behind the science of gastronomy

Offered by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, The Science of Gastronomy
is a delightful introduction to the basic scientific principles behind the methodology of
cooking, food preparation, and the enjoyment of eating.

Through the lens of biology, chemistry, and physics, you’ll dive into altering flavor by
chemical means, modifying a dish’s color to improve its appearance, and key ingredients for
preparing good healthy food.

The Science of Gastronomy

Course

Beginner level · 1 month(s)

Skills you'll build: Nutrition, Chemistry, Food Science, Cooking

4.6 (695 ratings)

Article sources

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Keep reading

How to Become a Nutritionist: A Guide

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Sustainable Development: Goals, Importance, and Career Guide

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8 min read · November 29, 2022

Written by Coursera • Updated on Dec 15, 2022 Share

This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional
research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

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