Food Science & Safety
Food composition, processing, quality, microbiology and safety.
Food science studies the chemical, physical and microbiological properties of food and how they change during processing, storage and preparation - from proteins and fats to fermentation, drying and encapsulation.
Food safety research covers foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella and Campylobacter, mycotoxins, pesticide residues and traceability along the supply chain. Related work addresses food waste and the sensory quality of food.
Studying food science & safety
Degree programs in this subject often run under these names:
What you typically learn
- Food chemistry and composition
- Food microbiology and hygiene
- Processing and preservation technologies
- Quality assurance and food law
- Sensory science and product development
- Nutrition basics
Where graduates typically work
- Food and beverage industry
- Quality assurance and food safety management
- Food control authorities and laboratories
- Product development
- Research and consulting
Curricula differ by country and institution - the program pages linked below have the details.
Where to study food science & safety
11 programs in 10 countries. See all 11 programs
Where research is heading
Typical research questions
- How can foodborne pathogens be detected faster and controlled along the supply chain?
- How do processing methods change nutritional value and quality?
- How can mycotoxin and residue contamination be monitored and reduced?
- Where along the supply chain does food waste occur, and how can it be reduced?
Publications per year
Papers whose main topic belongs to this field, 2010–2025.
Research fronts: fastest-growing topics
Papers 2024–2025 compared with 2021–2022, topics with at least 500 recent papers.
| Topic | 2021–2022 | 2024–2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food Supply Chain TraceabilityTraceability · Food Supply Chain · RFID Technology · Cold Chain Monitoring | 2,147 | 4,113 | +92% |
| Food Waste Reduction and SustainabilityFood Waste · Supply Chain · Household Behavior · Environmental Impact | 4,455 | 6,524 | +46% |
| Proteins in Food SystemsNanoemulsions · Proteins · Emulsions · Digestion | 5,414 | 7,615 | +41% |
| Food Chemistry and Fat AnalysisCocoa · Chocolate · Polyphenols · Fermentation | 2,615 | 3,537 | +35% |
| Food Safety and HygieneFood Safety · Hygiene Practices · Consumer Awareness · Food Handling | 3,460 | 4,302 | +24% |
| Probiotics and Fermented FoodsProbiotics · Prebiotics · Lactic Acid Bacteria · Microbiota | 8,866 | 10,971 | +24% |
Largest topics
By number of papers 2024–2025.
- Probiotics and Fermented FoodsProbiotics · Prebiotics · Lactic Acid Bacteria · Microbiota 10,971
- Meat and Animal Product QualityMeat Quality · Protein Oxidation · Lipid Oxidation · Antioxidants 9,563
- Proteins in Food SystemsNanoemulsions · Proteins · Emulsions · Digestion 7,615
- Food Waste Reduction and SustainabilityFood Waste · Supply Chain · Household Behavior · Environmental Impact 6,524
- Fermentation and Sensory AnalysisWine Yeasts · Microbial Modulation · Aroma Compounds · Polyphenols 5,427
- Mycotoxins in Agriculture and FoodMycotoxins · Toxicology · Fungal Pathogens · Food Safety 5,308
Highly cited recent papers
Most-cited articles and reviews published 2024–2025. Citation counts favor reviews and papers published early in the window.
- The Potential Impact of Probiotics on Human Health: An Update on Their Health-Promoting Properties
- Salmonellosis: An Overview of Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, and Innovative Approaches to Mitigate the Antimicrobial Resistant Infections
- Microbial food spoilage: impact, causative agents and control strategies
- Bacteriocin diversity, function, discovery and application as antimicrobials
- Multifunctional Applications of Lactic Acid Bacteria: Enhancing Safety, Quality, and Nutritional Value in Foods and Fermented Beverages
- Innovative and Sustainable Food Preservation Techniques: Enhancing Food Quality, Safety, and Environmental Sustainability
All study programs in food science & safety
- Bachelier bioingénieur (Bioscience Engineering) Bachelor University of Liège · Belgium Taught in French
- Agriculture and Food Bachelor Czech University of Life Sciences Prague · Czechia Taught in English
- Food Processing Technology (English program) Bachelor Cairo University · Egypt Taught in English
- Agricultural Science (BAgrSc) Bachelor University College Dublin · Ireland Taught in English
- BS Food Science and Technology Bachelor University of the Philippines Los Baños · Philippines Taught in English
- Master of Agricultural Science Master The University of Queensland · Australia Taught in English
- Diplôme d'ingénieur AgroParisTech (Engineering degree in agronomy and life sciences) Master AgroParisTech · France Taught in French
- MSc Sustainable Food Systems Master ISARA · France
- Organic Agriculture and Food Systems Master University of Hohenheim · Germany Taught in English
- Food Safety and Food Risk Management Master University of Bologna · Italy Taught in English
- Sustainable Food Systems Master Norwegian University of Life Sciences · Norway Taught in English