How to Become a Food Analyst in India?

How appropriate are the ingredients of the food you intake on a regular basis? Do the components of the food qualify for human consumption? What are the sources of the several food elements, and is there a possibility of growing bacteria in the same? The job of analyzing samples of food and analysing the aforementioned questions is of a Food Analyst. They do so in laboratories, participating in research and producing reports. Along with examining the chemical and biological elements of food, they also conduct qualitative and quantitative tests on beverage products. 

If this is something that interests you, then the question of how to become a food analyst in India must have crossed your mind. Read on to know more about the same!

Food Analyst: Roles and Responsibilities

To begin things with, let’s first understand what the core roles and responsibilities of a food analyst are. Listed below is an insight into the same. 

1. They are to provide assistance and support to food scientists in examining the samples of food and beverages, along with other major duties. 
2. They are responsible for quality research, control, and production. 
3. Food analysts are also responsible for recording test results and compiling the same, via documentation, etc. 
4. Further, food analysts prepare graphs, charts, and reports, related to laboratory testing of samples. 
5. They are also required to prepare slides used in the laboratory, where they incubate the same with cell cultures. 
6. Moreover, they mix, blend and cultivate ingredients to make reagents. 
7. If that’s not all, they are also responsible for taking care of the laboratory and the equipment within. 
8. Taking care of the stock inventory while maintaining the same is another facet of their job description. 

Food Analyst: Educational Qualifications 

For one to be a food analyst, one must undertake the required educational steps in the form of advanced study of the field – that are undergraduate and postgraduate courses. We have tabulated the same below to provide you with a better idea.

Popular Food Analyst Courses 

The students can decide to major in the following courses. 

Undergraduate	Postgraduate
Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Technology Associate’s degree in applied science Bachelor’s in Biology  Bachelor’s in Chemistry  Bachelor’s in Forensic Science  Bachelor in Biochemistry	Master’s degree in Food Science and Technology  MSc in Food Technology Master in Food Sciences MSc in Biotechnology and Food Engineering Master of Technology in Food Engineering and Technology PhD Food Technology

Online Courses and Certifications

As an additional course of study in the pursuit of becoming a food analyst, students can choose to go for the below online courses and certifications. 

Name of the Course	Platform
How Food is Made. Understanding Food Processing Technologies	FutureLearn
Introduction to Food Science	FutureLearn
Rebuilding Our Relationship with Food	Coursera
Unravelling solutions for Future Food problems	Coursera
Elements of Food Safety Management System (FSMS)	Alison

Also Read: Food Technology Courses, Subjects & Career Scope

Food Analyst: Eligibility Criteria 

The basic eligibility criteria for one to be able to apply to become a food analyst are mentioned below. 

1. The candidates should have completed an undergraduate degree to the aforementioned, for which they must complete education at 10 + 2 level with science subjects. 
2. English should be a compulsory subject. 
3. A master’s program that furthers the study of the field is preferred while applying for the job of a food analyst.
4. Work experience in the field, through internships, etc, only adds to the chances of the candidates to land a job as a food analyst. 

Top Colleges in India for Food Science and Technology 

Some of the best colleges in the field of food science and technology are mentioned below. 

Name of College	Location
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)	Kharagpur
National Institute of Technology (NIT)	Rourkela
Christ University	Bangalore
Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences	Coimbatore
SRM Institute of Science and Technology	Chennai
Birla Institute of Technology	Mesra
National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship, and Management	Sonipat, Haryana
School of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics -DY Patil University	Mumbai
ICAR – Indian Agricultural Research Institute	Delhi

Food Analyst Examination (FAE)

From Food Safety and Standards Authority of India comes a Food Analyst Examination (FAE) that they organise to indulge in increasing the pool of qualified candidates for the role of a Food Analyst.

Year.	Number of candidates declared qualified as Food Analyst by the Board.
2012	12
2014	29
2017	156
January 2018	73

Check Out FSSAI Exam 2023

Food Analyst: Skills Required 

Some of the main skills required to become a food analyst are listed below. 

1. Quality control analysis
2. Critical thinking
3. Reading comprehension
4. Science competency
5. Communication Skills 
6. Reasoning skills 
7. Analytical skills 
8. Statistical skills 

Food Analyst: Career Scope and Salary Prospects 

The career path of a food analyst can take the form of the following jobs. 

• Food safety inspector
• Food regulatory advisor
• Food technician
• Food production engineer
• Food production planner
• Dairy processing technician
• Botanicals specialist
• Food and beverage packaging technologist
• Food technologist

The average salary of a food analyst in India is mentioned below. 

Average Salary

INR 2.4 lakh.

Food Analyst: Recruiters 

Some of the recruiters are mentioned below. 

1. Reliable Analytical Laboratories
2. FICCI Research & Analysis Centre
3. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India
4. Fare Labs
5. Arbro Pharmaceuticals

Also Read: How to Become a Business Manager in India?

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