The National Food Lab

I am giving this a low rating because of the new way they pay you!
No longer are you given cash at the end of your «tasting», but a VISA Gift Card.
This was troublesome to activate and did not even have the full amount I was told the participation paid.
They need to go back to paying you in CASH !!!

Honestly I have nothing to compare this to.
I have been maybe 6 times over the years and my kids at least once. We’ve never had a bad experience. They are timely and professional. The systems work and you get paid in cash or cash card.
It’s totally worth signing up for!

Place is waste of time they dont want honest evaluations of products just for testers to answer in the lab best interest.

Being a taste tester for the National Food Lab and being a devoted Unilocaler for me go hand in hand — taste, explore and share your opinion! I was charmed as soon as I heard the idea — offer this immaculate and welcoming facility in Livermore (one of I believe 3 locations nationwide) around 45 minutes of your time, sample some tasty eats, share your thoughts, and walk out the door with cold hard cash in your hand knowing you helped shape the flavors that will grace tables across the country. Pretty damn cool if you ask me!
I’ve visited the National Food Lab 3 times now, and though they have contacted me by phone for testing, I generally qualify for their tests online. So far I’ve sampled yogurt, popcorn and teriyaki sauce, and have received $ 25 — $ 30 for nibbling and sharing my thoughts. It’s an interesting experience, especially if you’ve ever watched the TV cooking challenge shows where competitors have to try to guess the flavors blind — having no context for the food you’re trying heightens the experience and really gives your palate a workout. For example, when I sampled the popcorn, the differences between my four samples were SO miniscule I almost wondered if they were playing a trick on us! But nope, exercise your taste buds to pick up those subtle nuances of sweet and salty, reflect on the aftertaste, and decide which flavor suits you best.
There are several different types of tests — most last 45 minutes but some last for multiple days, sometimes children are invited in with their parents to be the testers too. The larger the time commitment, the higher the cash payment will be. You’ll be asked in the survey about any food allergies or intolerances too, so vegetarians/​vegans and folks looking to avoid certain ingredients will have plenty of opportunity to make sure the test they’re qualifying for is appropriate for them. Be honest, and you’ll have a great experience!
Highly recommended if you want to try something new, if you love to share your opinions, and of course if you love food! Do your part to help out, and get rewarded for it — win/​win!

I have attended two food tastings. They are usually very informative and nice. I was willing to participate a third time. They called me two weeks ago to participate tomorrow. I live in tracy it is about a 30min drive, so i look forward to money incentive. They did not mention it. I figured i will call later to ask. I called today at 12pm. The lady who answered said tomorrow is a 20min test. I told her no its 40min i remembered them telling me. She argued with me and says no its 20min. I asked her to please check if there are multiple tests. She has me hold. Comes back and says so are u talking about the previous week? I said,‘what does that mean please rephrase that, idk what you are asking because i mentioned the test is tomorrow.’ She repeated are you talking about the test from last week? I said no! The test is tomorrow! She goes so the 21^st? Im like yes! I dont understand why she was acting this way and her tone was condescending. She was not nice bad phone manners! My english is perfect and i am a college graduate she was addressing me as if i am an idiot who is beneath her. She finally checks the test time and i was right! It was a 40min test. She didnt apologize for being wrong or for arguing with me. I asked her if there was a cash incentive. She says $ 25. (Considering i have to commute earlier that day for 2 hrs and considering her attitude i was not going to drive from tracy to help them for a test thats 40 minutes long for $ 25. It just covers my gas.) i said thats all? She said thats what we usually pay testers. I said idk because last few times i have been a tester i have been paid more. She repeated herself, yes we usually pay testers $ 25. She was rude and did not know how to talk to me nicely. I was not mean to her and my tone was pleasant, yet she continued with her condescending tone. I told her that its not enough for me it bearly would cover my gas, so i will have to cancel. Funny how her tone changed and was much nicer at that point. I think its because she decided to erase me off the list so i will not be called again for future tests. I did not ask her to do that, but my gut feeling says she did it right after she asked for my number. It is sad how one bad apple can cause such a bad review for a place i have been to twice and had a pleasant experience. Please give your phone people proper trainning. I was in no way being difficult with her. She needs better customer service skills.

Wow, great way to get your opinions heard!
I was referred to register by a coworker. Online registration was easy. You take a bunch of surveys and they will contact you if you qualify for any tastings.
I was in and out in under an hour and tried 5 different products.
Can’t wait to qualify for the next one!

Such a pleasant place to visit.
I have been here several times for some food tasting tests, and I have always really enjoyed my experience.
The place is always immaculately clean, and the girls that work here are just the most absolute down to earth, sweet hearts.
My first study was for $ 50.00, and this one was for $ 60.00. It’s always fun giving our advise on food study’s and being able to conversate with the rest of the group. And its of course even more of a pleasure to actually be paid for it :)
Can’t wait tell the next tasting I hopefully qualify for!

I have been doing taste tests for a couple of years now. I love getting paid to taste food and give my opinion. This time I got paid to apply and take tests for a job on the panel. NFL has a Facebook page to find out more!

Until my session today, I thought that participating in the studies that this office offers was invite only. Their website offers you the chance to join their email club, where they randomly select participants for future studies that involve trying out new food products. But they do survey invites on craigslist as well.
Clean facility, helpful staff, conveniently close to 580. Assuming you qualify, a cool way to make a few extra bucks.

I’ve been doing taste tests with them for several years now — since before they moved to Livermore from Dublin. I love the staff here. Everyone is always so incredibly friendly! And whenever they call, they are conscientious about not taking up too much of your time.
How can you go wrong by giving up 25 – 40 min of your time to try new food products and get paid for them? I enjoy it. They always ask you a series of questions over the phone to see if you qualify. They sometimes have longer focused groups (for which you have to qualify for as well) and those sometimes pay more. The one time they did a Saturday 3 hr group and offered $ 75, I got lost since I was trying to find the new location. So I didn’t make it and had to stay a poor college kid for the day.
They are always looking for new taste testers, so check them out!

Oh I was so nervous like It was like the first day of soccer tryouts. Do I have what it takes to be a taste tester? Yes! Anyone can (if you don’t have food allergies) because they make the process so easy. From directions to the facility to directions given throughout the taste test. There were supposed to be 17 people in my group but at 1pm only 11 were there and the test started right at 1. I really appreciated that because they didn’t waste any time. It was a completely painless experience and I am looking forward to my next call from the NFL (hee hee). Oh and did I mention I got paaaaaaid!

Taste testing food and getting paid for it. What’s not to love? I’m a new taster for them and have been to their facility 2 – 3 times now. Set up a bit differently from other facilities I’ve been to. Friendly staff and not too far from 580. Plenty of parking.

Finally qualified for my first taste test!
I first found out about The National Food Lab from my mom who has done a few tastings here before. Getting paid for tasting food?! Sold!
Today’s taste test was for crackers and vanilla ice cream. Awesome, and I got paid $ 25 for coming in tasting and answering a few questions and I was out of there in 35 – 40 min!
The staff is super friendly, the building and entrance is easy to find (right across the street from the Costco) and there is plenty of parking.
I’ll definitely be back for another taste test!

What’s not to love? Taste food, get paid. It’s as simple as that! I got paid $ 25 cash for taste testing Triscuit-​type wheat crackers and vanilla ice cream. In and out of the facility within 35 minutes. I work just down the street about a mile away, so this is super convenient.
The proctor/​servers were very friendly. I also like the fact that they provide you with little water bottles and saltine crackers to dilute the tastes in your mouth prior to the next sample.
There is ample parking and a very clear sign to indicate where taste testers should enter the building.
I’ll be back!

Gotta love tasting food and getting paid for it. Sure, not everything is always tasty, but I could also be more selective in what I choose to go in for. And, the rumors aren’t true… you will not start glowing after eating their laboratory creations.
I have some friends who’ve been tasters since they were in Dublin. I just started within the last couple of years, and I still get a little excited when I get a call from them to qualify me for a tasting.

I work down the street from The NFL and i love when they call me… I get so excited at the prospect of trying something «new» and getting paid CASH on the spot for it.
So far the two times I’ve gone, I’ve only tried cereal… which is FIIIINE by me, i heart cereal :)

Love food? Like trying out new things? Love giving your opinion? And get paid for it? The NFL is the perfect place! It’s located across the street from Cornerstone/​Costco. Plenty of parking, A/​C and friendly staff.
Sign-​up on their website to be in their database. Once in a while based on general information you have entered they occassionally send out and online survery for pre-​qualifications. If you qualify they give you a long list of dates and times for when its convenient for you to come in and to a group taste test. Most take 30 – 40 mintues and pay between $ 20 to the highest I have seen $ 70 — always in cash.
I like to food testing. Those are fun! But they also do plenty of other household items as well.
I have told everyone who lives in the area that I know to sign-​up.
It’s fun, super easy and if you can spare about 30 min then why not?!

My family signed up to do testing here years ago and they still call us. We’ve been called to try various food items and household cleaning supplies. All you need to do is call and sign up, they take care of the rest. I think you can register online as well. Just be sure to answer the questions for their surveys correctly when they do phone you, or they won’t take you to do a test. The best part is they pay you for your time. I’ve made anywhere from $ 20 to $ 60 depending on what they wanted me to test. The tests normally only take about a half hour. They’re desperately seeking new testers between the ages of 18 – 35, so if you are willing to sign up, go for it. All you need to do is answer a few short questions regarding different food or household items and you’re in.