Culinary Related Careers: For Those Who Don't Exactly Cook

related culinary careers wine glasses
If you are interested in working with food, your career path is not just limited to becoming a cook or a chef. You have a variety of choices when looking into the field of culinary arts, including careers in food science and food safety.

Food Science

A food scientist studies the chemical, biological and biochemical properties of food and how to process food safely at a reasonable cost. Courses covered in this major might include engineering, as well as the sciences. Food scientist employers include:
  • companies that manufacture processing equipment
  • companies that supply food manufacturers
  • food manufacturers
  • governmental agencies
  • packaging companies.
Food scientists can participate in research and development, marketing and management. The average salary for a food scientist is about $54,000 per year.

Food Safety

The United States Department of Agriculture is one of the major employers of food safety inspectors. Food safety inspectors visit food businesses that work with meat, poultry and eggs to ensure that these foods are being handled correctly and safely. Food inspection positions can start at about $29,000 per year at an entry level. Other governmental agencies also hire food safety inspectors.
Additional food safety careers in the government and private sector include:
  • consumer research
  • education
  • scientific research.
Technicians are also required in the food safety field.

Dietician

As a dietician, you will focus on providing people with proper diets and promoting health through eating the right kinds of foods. To become a dietician, you will have to receive a Bachelor’s Degree in Dietetics or a similar degree. Courses necessary to earning these degrees will include physiology, biology and chemistry. Make sure that your school’s program is accredited by the American Dietetic Association before you enroll.
 
After completing your education, you may choose to get further credentials through the American Dietetic Association. This will require passing a test and working in a supervised internship. Keep in mind that each state has different requirements for dietician licensing and certification.
 
Places a dietician might work include:
  • assisted living facilities
  • correctional facilities
  • doctor’s offices
  • hospitals.
The average income of a dietician is about $47,000 per year.

Nutritionist

If you plan on becoming a nutritionist, your education will run along a path similar to that of someone who wants to become a dietitian. Courses in college will include some of the hard sciences, including biology and chemistry. You may choose to major in a field such as nutritional sciences with an emphasis on pediatrics or gerontology.
 
Nutritionists are typically employed by the same type of businesses or organizations that employ dieticians. Like dietician license requirements, state requirements vary for nutritionist licensing. In addition, the average salary is also about $47,000 per year, given the same levels of education as a dietician.

The Difference between a Nutritionist and a Dietician

What is the difference between a dietician and a nutritionist? The main difference involves certification. The American Dietetic Association offers programs to become a registered dietician or a dietetic technician. No certification programs like this exist for nutritionists.
 
In addition, the term “dietician” is legally regulated. A person can call himself or herself a “nutritionist” without having to meet formal requirements.
 
Resources
 
All Star Directories, Inc. (n.d.). Become a Dietician/Nutritionist. Retrieved March 14, 2008, from the AlliedHealthSchools.com Web site.
 
Penn State (n.d.). Discover Food Science. Retrieved March 14, 2008, from the PSU.edu Web site.
 
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (n.d.). Dieticians and Nutritionists. Retrieved March 14, 2008, from the Stats.Bls.gov Web site.
 
USDA (n.d.). Careers. Retrieved March 14, 2008, from the USDA.gov Web site.
 
University of Delaware (n.d.). Major Resource Kit. Retrieved March 14, 2008, from the UDel.edu Web site.