Testers and Graders, Food and Beverage Processing (9465)

Job titles

Nature of work

Testers and graders in this unit group test or grade ingredients and finished food, beverage or tobacco products to ensure conformance to company standards. They are employed in fruit and vegetable processing plants, dairies, flour mills, bakeries, sugar refineries, fish plants, meat plants, breweries and other food, beverage and tobacco processing plants.

Fields of interest

  • Making or building things, constructing, doing repairs, and performing installations
  • Working with your hands

Main duties

  • Testers and graders in this unit group perform some or all of the following duties:
  • - Take samples of products at various stages of processing
  • - Examine ingredients or finished products by sight, touch, taste and smell or weigh materials to ensure conformance to company standards
  • - Conduct routine tests for product specifications such as colour, alcohol content, carbonation, moisture content, temperature, fat content and packaging
  • - Grade or sort raw materials or finished products
  • - Ensure hygiene and sanitation practices conform to policies and regulations
  • - Advise supervisors of ingredient or product deficiencies.

These headings are provided for the following occupation(s) :

Testers and Graders, Food and Beverage Processing (9465)

Employment requirements

  • * Completion of secondary school may be required.
  • * Experience as a machine operator or labourer in the food and beverage processing industry may be required.
  • * On-the-job training is usually provided.

Skill type

  • Occupations unique to processing, manufacturing and utilities

Skill level

  • Intermediate

More information

  • * There is little mobility among the various types of testers and graders in this unit group.
  • * Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.

Professional associations

  • Comité sectoriel de main-d'œuvre en transformation alimentaire
  • 8000, boul. Henri-Bourassa, bureau 270
  • Québec, QC
  • G1G4C7
  • Toll free: 1-877-449-5335
  • Phone: 418-623-5335
  • Fax: 418-623-1343
  • Email: info@csmota.qc.ca