Final answer:
Food scientists need to understand chemistry for various reasons, including understanding the composition of food, ensuring food safety and quality, and studying the nutritional value of food.
Step-by-step explanation:
Food scientists need to understand chemistry for several reasons. First, chemistry is necessary to understand the composition of food and how different chemicals interact with each other during processing, cooking, and preservation. Second, knowledge of chemistry helps food scientists ensure the safety and quality of food by understanding the potential chemical hazards and the best ways to prevent them. Third, chemistry is essential for studying the nutritional value of food and how the body metabolizes different nutrients.