Food Sciences

In the 4-H Food Science project, you will explore the science behind the foods you eat every day. From learning how food travels from the farm to your table to understanding how to prepare meals safely, this project helps you see food in a whole new way. You’ll discover how science shapes food safety, nutrition, and even product design, while also exploring careers in the food industry. Along the way, you’ll build skills that can keep you and others healthy and open doors to exciting opportunities in the future.

Contact your county Extension office to get involved!



Food Sciences Toolkit

  • Test how temperature affects bacteria growth on food
  • Compare handwashing vs. sanitizers for food safety
  • Study how packaging keeps food fresh longer
  • Experiment with preservatives in homemade vs. store-bought foods
  • Create a poster about safe food handling practices
  • Explore how food is shipped and stored from farm to table
  • Visit a food manufacturing facility and report what you learned
  • Design your own safe and creative food package
  • Learn how thermal processing (boiling, freezing, baking) changes food
  • Try labeling your own recipe with nutrition facts
  • Track the journey of a common food product from farm to store
  • Investigate how cross-contamination happens in a kitchen and how to prevent it
Secret Link