Food inspectors are responsible for making sure that the meat, dairy, and eggs that we eat are safe and won't make us sick.
To become a food inspector, you'll need to meet certain requirements, including educational and physical requirements. We break it all down for you below.
What Is a Food Inspector?
A food inspector is a type of health and safety inspector that specifically works to make sure food products are safe for the public to consume.
Their jobs require them to inspect slaughterhouses and processing plants to ensure that the environment is sanitary and safe and that the food meets quality standards.
This is slightly different from public health inspectors who may go into restaurants and other places that serve food to ensure that food is being properly prepared.
The job duties of a food inspector mainly include day-to-day inspection of animals before and after slaughter to prevent disease and food borne illnesses.
This job isn't for the faint of heart; you'll be required to work with livestock and poultry as well as to touch and cut raw meat.
Food inspectors may also monitor slaughterhouses and processing plants to ensure health and safety standards are being met.
Food Inspector Specializations
While general food inspectors make up a majority of food inspectors, you may choose to specialize in certain areas of food inspection.
Consumer safety inspectors are hired by privately owned processing plants to ensure that the plant is following all health and safety protocols.
Instead of coming in to do inspections, like the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), they make sure their plant will pass any inspections that happen.
Import inspectors are another type of specialization for food inspectors. They work at ports, border crossings, and other ports of entry into the United States.
The job of an import inspector is to make sure that any products that are imported into the United States meet the same health and quality standards that U.S. companies must adhere to.
Requirements to Become a Food Inspector
The requirements to become a food inspector can vary depending on the type of work you do and your employer. Below, we've listed some general requirements food inspectors need to meet.
Education Requirements for Food Inspectors
Most food inspectors need to have a bachelor's degree. This is a four-year undergraduate degree that allows you to major in a specific subject.
While there is no specific degree for food inspectors, common degree areas include:
- biology
- food science
- health science
- occupational health and safety
In most cases, a graduate degree is not necessary to work as a food inspector, unless you are looking to work your way up to a higher position.
Experience Requirements for Food Inspectors
Depending on your employer, work experience may be required for you to earn a job as a food inspector.
Food inspectors for the USDA must have either a bachelor's degree or they can have one year of job-related experience in the food industry.
This experience must include not just knowledge of sanitation practices and control measures used in handling food products, but also skill in applying those standards in a food product environment.
You may be able to gain experience through internship programs. The government sometimes provides these, and often you can do these internships while still earning your degree.
Physical Requirements for Food Inspectors
Working as a food inspector can be physically taxing, and food inspectors should be able to handle the physical workload that comes with the job.
The USDA has several functional requirements for food inspectors. These include:
- being able to stay on your feet for eight hours a day
- being able to lift items 30 to 50 pounds
- being able to reach above your shoulders and use your hands and fingers
- being able to detect odors
- having normal or near-normal vision with correction
- having normal hearing
Of course, some accommodations can be made for those with disabilities, but some of these aspects, such as vision and smell, are key parts of the job of a food inspector.
Food inspectors also need to be able to withstand the environmental factors of the job. They may work indoors or outdoors, in very hot or very cold environments, or in areas that smell strongly.
Exams and Certification for Food Inspectors
Some employers, including the USDA, may require you to pass a knowledge test before you're allowed to begin working for the company.
Requirements may vary, so check the job posting to see if you'll need to study for and pass an exam.
Certification is generally not necessary, but it can help you get a job or a promotion. Certification proves you have the knowledge and skills to work in food safety.
There are a few different agencies in the United States that offer certification for health and safety professionals. These agencies include:
- Board of Certified Safety Professionals
- Board for Global EHS Credentialing
- National Association of Safety Professionals
Each offers different certifications for professionals in various roles and with various years of experience.
Job Outlook for Food Inspectors
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) doesn't give a job outlook for food inspectors specifically, but it does give an outlook for all occupational health and safety specialist roles.
The BLS estimates that there will be a 5% increase in health and safety jobs by 2031, which is about the same as for other occupations.
The USDA states that food inspectors are the largest category of employees at the department, with over 6,500 inspectors across the nation.
Become a Food Inspector
To begin a career as a food inspector, you'll need to meet the educational, physical, and possibly the experience requirements.
With the information above, you can get started toward becoming a food inspector today.
