A food bacteriological technician is trained to conduct tests on various types of food products to check for unsafe levels of bacteria. The Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) has specific guidelines and mandates that must be followed and food bacteriological technicians ensure that tests are conducted and results are documented. Some of the other specific duties of a food bacteriological technician include preparing the laboratory for testing by sterilizing the equipment ordering laboratory supplies and recording data that is generated from tests. Many food bacteriological technicians work for the FDA state and federal agencies which place regulations on food processing plants or for food manufacturers who want to ensure the safety of their products. According to careers.stateuniversity.com food bacteriologist technicians may work with specialized equipment that checks the bacterial level in specific products such as meat. Besides obtaining a minimum of an associate’s degree or a certificate from a vocational school food bacteriological technicians must be experienced with the laboratory equipment used to test samples and they must also have math skills and knowledge of general biology. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the job growth for food bacteriological technicians is expected to grow for the next several years and that individuals can expect to earn approximately $17.72 per hour which is equivalent to $36857 per year.
|Education Required:||Associate's Degree|
|Tasks:||Sterilizes laboratory equipment.
Orders supplies for the testing laboratory.
Ensures that food meets
Tests food for bacteria.
|Also Called:||Microbiology Technician
Food Science Technician
Food Research Technician