This children’s article, Would you eat pet food for a living?, has been written for native English speakers and learners of English as a second or foreign language. It helps children practise reading and comprehension, learn exciting vocabulary, and discover weird and wonderful jobs from around the world. Written by Mark Pulley, a teacher and writer who creates fun and informative news articles for English learners.
What is a pet food taster?
Pet food tasters aren’t animals, they’re humans! Their job is to eat and test food made for dogs, cats, and other pets. They check the taste, texture, and smell to make sure it’s good enough for animals to eat. Their real job title might be something like quality control specialist, but yes, they really do eat pet food!
Time to sniff, taste, and test!
Pet food tasters start by opening samples of dry and wet food. They smell it, look at it, and then, if they’re brave enough, taste it. They’re not just checking if it’s delicious, they’re looking for anything strange, like odd smells or a weird texture.
After that, they write a report. This includes notes about the flavour, smell, and whether the food gives pets the right nutrients. Some tasters also help invent new recipes or give advice on food safety and rules.
What skills do they need?
Pet food tasters need a strong sense of smell and taste. They often have science degrees and understand nutrition, animal health, and food safety. It probably helps to be hungry too!
It might sound like a strange job, but thanks to these tasters, your pets are eating meals that are safe, healthy, and maybe even tasty. Here’s a video of pet tasters at work on YouTube.
Article vocabulary list
- Pet food taster – A person who tests food made for animals
- Aroma – A smell, usually used when talking about food
- Texture – How something feels in your mouth when you eat it
- Nutritional – Related to the nutrients the body (or animal) needs to stay healthy
- Recipe – A set of instructions for making food
- Quality control – Making sure a product is good and safe
Comprehension questions
Just click the plus (+) to see the answer
Comprehension questions
1. What does a pet food taster do?
a) Eats snacks for TV adverts
b) Tastes and checks pet food
c) Feeds animals at a zoo
Answer: b) Tastes and checks pet food
2. What do tasters check in pet food?
a) The animal’s reaction
b) Price and colour
c) Taste, smell, and texture
Answer: c) Taste, smell, and texture
3. Why do they write reports?
a) To share pet jokes
b) To give feedback and improve recipes
c) To tell pets what they ate
Answer: b) To give feedback and improve recipes
4. What kind of education do some tasters have?
a) Art school
b) Science degrees
c) Dog training certificates
Answer: b) Science degrees
5. What’s one important skill a pet food taster needs?
a) Loud singing voice
b) Strong sense of smell
c) Quick running speed
Answer: b) Strong sense of smell
Mark is a writer and EFL teacher from England with eight years’ experience. He’s passionate about travel, sport (especially football), animals, nature, and history, and enjoys helping children explore the world through language and learning.
