Food consultants are specialists in food and its preparation and have a good knowledge of nutrition, food science, food marketing and promotion. They are food experts orientated towards the consumer.
Their duties may include: answering consumer queries about food; developing products and recipes for the food production industry; food styling and photography; television productions and demonstrations; and writing about the products for the media, such as articles for magazines and newspapers.
Satisfying Aspects
- working with food
- variety of the work
- working with people
Demanding aspects
- frustration when new recipes do not work
- not being able to help consumers with their queries
Requirements
A food consultant should:
- enjoy working with food;
- be creative and innovative;
- have an outgoing personality;
- be eloquent;
- be able to communicate and liaise with the public tactfully.
School Subjects
National Senior Certificate meeting degree requirements for a degree course
National Senior Certificate meeting diploma requirements for a diploma course
Each institution will have its own minimum entry requirements.
Compulsory Subjects: Mathematics
Recommended Subjects: Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Consumer Studies
Training
Degree: BSc Food Science - US, UP, UV.
Diploma: Food Technology, Hospitality Management - CUT, CPUT, TUT, DUT, VUT, UJ and most FET colleges.
Employer
Employment opportunities exist in
- large food and appliance companies
- manufacturing industries
- food retailers and distributors
- the food media.
Contact
SA Association for Food Science & Technology
P O Box 868
Ferndale, 2160
Tel: (011) 789 1384
Fax: (011) 789 1385
E-mail: saafost@vdw.co.za
www.saafost.org.za