How do I Become a Food Safety Inspector?

Inspections of restaurants, grocery stores, and processing plants are conducted food safety inspectors to ensure that foods are stored and prepared in accordance with national standards. They keep track of violations and advise employees and business owners on how to comply. Food safety inspector education and training requirements vary country and region, but most professionals must have a college diploma, pass certification exams, and complete formal, on-the-job training programs. A person with the necessary credentials can work as a food safety inspector for a government agency or a private consulting firm.

If you want to work as a food safety inspector, you should work on improving your communication and leadership skills. Inspectors must be able to clearly explain violations and policies to restaurant employees in order for them to understand the issues and the importance of resolving them. Many professionals offer scheduled and impromptu training seminars to teach employees how to diagnose and prevent problems. Even the tiniest code violations can result in contaminated food and sick customers, so a food safety inspector must have a keen eye for detail.

A variety of university degree programs are available to assist you in preparing for this position. A bachelor’s degree in food safety is available at some schools, but you can also benefit from a biology, agriculture, or health program. Take advantage of your time as an undergraduate to learn about the science and history of food safety. Environmental science, organic chemistry, and disease pathology classes can also be beneficial. In most cases, a bachelor’s degree is all that is required to work in a food safety position, though you may choose to pursue a master’s degree to improve your credentials and job prospects.

Look into local and online training courses to obtain voluntary certification after earning a degree. It is critical to select a program that has been accredited a regional or national governing board, such as the US Food Safety Inspection Service. You may be required to pass a certification exam administered directly the appropriate government agency in order to obtain a position in government.

After being hired as a food safety inspector, you can expect to spend several weeks in specialized classes and shadowing experienced workers to learn about specific policies and procedures. You can earn the right to travel independently to various food establishments within a defined geographic area over time. Throughout their careers, inspectors are expected to attend regular refresher courses and seminars to learn about the most recent research on food safety and new guidelines.