CAREER OPTION > Food Inspector
Career as a Food Inspector
Food is an essential part of our living and it is very important that quality of the food that we intake is assured. In order to carry out this activity, you can become a food inspector. As a food inspector, your duties will include ensuring the quality of the food that people eat and see to that the food products being sold and cooked meet certain food safety standards. You will also have to take into consideration the ingredients that are included in the process of cooking a food or food product. The hygiene of the equipment used to cook or make food products are also analysed and evaluated by you as a food inspector.
You will go around different restaurants, food manufacturers, factories and food chains to make sure that their production meets the quality and safety standards. You will also inspect live animals in slaughter houses and go to fields and farms to ensure the quality of grains and crops grown. Violations with sanitation can lead the food to be contaminated with adulterants and bacteria. This may lead to health issues and sometimes even death of the consumer. All these illicit incidents can be avoided when food inspectors do their duty properly.
- Minimum of an H.S.C. (10+2) education in any subject and stream under a recognised board of education.
- It is likely if you have biology, maths, physics and chemistry as your main subjects. Please note that however this is not a mandatory requirement.
- Have good physical health and hygiene as you will have to perform activities indoors and outdoors and have to set an example to the others.
- Good vision and the ability to distinguish different smells and colours is a must since it can help you analyse how consumable different food products are.
- You must be ethical and honest towards your work and take immediate actions when necessary in situations of unhealthy places and procedures.
How to become a Food Inspector
STEP 1: If you are interested to take up a career in food inspection, you have to acquire a bachelor’s degree in any stream of your choice. It is likely that you take a bachelor’s degree in a related field since it will be an added advantage. You can be a graduate in agriculture, pharmacy, dairy technology, food technology etc.
STEP 2: The course duration is generally three to four years after the completion of which you will be eligible for the food inspector exam conducted by various state and central government bodies.
STEP 3: You can join government services and if you do not wish to do so, you can apply in private food processing agencies or granary.
- Food Craft Institute – Kannur
- Sanitary Inspector Diploma Institute – New Delhi
- Food Craft Institute – Kochi
With increasing number of food processing units, eating hubs and large scale grain procurement, there is an increasing demand for food inspectors as well. You can work with the government sector or privately owned food processing plants and managements. You will be appointed by various state and central parties to keep an eye and inspect the quality of food as per the requirements of the nation’s laws.
A government employed food inspector can get an income between Rs.35,000 to Rs.50, 000 per month. There will also be additional incentives and pension plans. If you are working with private sectors, you are likely to earn an amount between Rs.20,000 to Rs.40,000 which shall increase with experience.