Last Updated On 22 Oct, 2020

How to Become a Food Safety Officer

About Food Safety Officer

Food Safety Officer is a professional who is responsible to analyze food samples collected from various places for inspection. The major purpose of the analysis of food sample is the identification of any hazardous effect of a food product, suspicious material in food or raw material used for its manufacturing.

Based on the results, the Food Safety Officer can issue a notice to the manufacturer, distributor or the seller of the food product for the usage of hazardous food products or raw material.

Other job roles of a Food Safety Officer include surprise visit at hotels, restaurants and food industry for inspection of food items and to survey if all safety rules and guidelines are followed while manufacturing the food product or not.

In India, the State Government or Central Government hires a Food Safety Officer at an Administrative Post. The recruitment is done based on State Civil Services (SCS) examination in the concerned state.

Eligibility to become Food Safety Officer

The minimum eligibility criteria to choose a job role as a Food Safety Officer is given below:

  • The candidate must hold a Bachelor’s degree or a Master’s degree in a relevant discipline like B.Sc/ B.Tech in food technology/ dairy technology/ biotechnology/ agriculture Science/ biochemistry etc from a recognized institute.
  • Those who wish to work as a scientist must hold a PhD degree in a relevant discipline.
  • Candidates must have some years of experience in the related field.

Career Path

After acquiring the relevant degree, the candidate must apply for the job post of Food Safety Officer. Candidates can apply for SCS entrance for the post of Food Safety Officer in a respective state for government job

The selection will be done on the basis of performance in the entrance test and personal interview rounds.

The notification for recruitment is released on the websites newspapers and media for different states. Candidates must regularly check for job posts to apply. 

Types of Job Roles Food Safety Officer

A Food Safety Officer is hired for different types of job roles. Some of the job roles that a candidate can choose form is given below: -

Health Inspector

A health inspector visits restaurant, hotels, food manufacturing industries, bakeries etc to check the food hygiene and the quality of material used. They also inspect the hygiene of workers, kitchen area, utensils etc.

They can charge fine to the owner of the food manufacturer, hotels or restaurants in case any ill activities carried out at the respective place 

Food Scientists

A Food scientist examines food samples to study the processing of foods and its deterioration. He/ She analyses the food sample to check for any poisonous chemical or material used in the food. They also find solutions for packaging and preservation of food.

Food Technologist

A Food Safety Officer as technologist ensures that strict hygiene food safety standards are followed during food preparation and packaging. They monitor the use of additives and preservatives in food items and also test and examine food samples. Based on testing and experiments they write reports.

 Food and Drug Administrator (FDA)

The Food and Drug Administrator job role is to protect public health by ensuring the safety if food products and also to reduce the harmful effects of regulated tobacco products.

Employment Sector or Industry

A Food Safety Officer is an Administrative Level Post in India They are hired in different departments of Food Safety and Health, Government of India. The employment sectors include:

  • Central Government
  • State Government
  • Agriculture Sector
  •  Pharma Industry

Top Recruiting Companies/ Agencies/ Organizations

Check the list of top recruiters that hires a Food Safety Officer in India:

  • Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
  • State Public Service Commission (SPSC)
  • Department of Food Safety and Health, Government of India

Planning to choose Food Safety Officer as your career?

Pay Scale/Salary of Food Safety Officer

Payscale of a Food Safety Officer may vary according to the job roles and responsibilities. The payscale of different jobs roles of a Food Safety Officer is given in the following table: -

Job Role

Starting Pay Scale

Mid Level Pay Scale

Highest Pay Scale

Health Inspector

Rs 2.40 Lakhs

Rs 3.00 Lakhs

Rs 6.00 Lakhs

Food Scientist

Rs 4.00 Lakhs

Rs 7.50 Lakhs

Rs 20.00 Lakhs

Food Technologist

Rs 3.00 Lakhs

Rs 4.50 Lakhs

Rs 7.00 Lakhs

 Food and Drug Administrator

Rs 3.00 Lakhs

Rs 4.00 Lakhs

Rs 5.00 Lakhs 

Books & Study Material to Become Food Safety Officer

Check the list of some of the best books for Food Safety Officer: -

  • A Competition Book For Food Safety Officer by Mrs. Durvesh Kumari & Dr. S.K. Goyal Er. Suresh Chandra
  • Textbook of Food Science & Technology by Avantina Sharma
  • Food Microbiology by William C Frazier), Dennis C Westoff), K N Vanitha
  • Food Safety Officer  with Free Objective ( Khadya Suraksha Aadhikari book )
  • Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) in Food Technology by P.M. Kotecha (Author)

 

Pros of becoming a Food Safety Officer

  • It is a reputed job role in India as a Food Safety Officer is hired at an administrative level.
  • The pay scale of a Food Safety Officer is decent
  • As a Food Safety Officer, you get rights and responsibilities to take important decision related to food.

Cons of becoming a Food Safety Officer

  • To become a Food Safety Officer in India you need to clear central or state-level entrance exam like SSC.
  • The job role is usually offered to candidates with certain years of experience in the relevant field.
  • The job role is challenging as the Food Safety Officer is expected to take some instant decisions.
  • A lot of coordination is required between the organization, consumers and authorities to take some decisions.

Do you think this is the right career choice for you?

Take our test and find out if it suits your strengths.

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FAQs about Food Safety Officer

Is there an age limit to become a Food Safety Officer?

The age of a Food Safety Officer must range between 21 years to 40 years.

What is the level of the post of a Food Safety Officer?

Food Safety Officer is a Group B Level Administrative Post at the different department of Food Safety and Health, Government of India.

What are the advantages of pursuing a career as a Food Safety Officer?

A Food Safety Officer is hired at an administrative level with a good pay scale. They are responsible for making important decision-related to safety and hygiene of food.

What are some of the good books related to a career as a Food Safety Officer?

Textbook of Food Science & Technology by Avantina Sharma, Food Microbiology by William C Frazier, Dennis C Westoff), K N Vanitha, A Competition Book For Food Safety Officer by Mrs. Durvesh Kumari & Dr. S.K. Goyal Er. Suresh Chandra, Food Safety Officer with Free Objective ( Khadya Suraksha Adhikari book ), Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) in Food Technology by P.M. Kotecha are some of the good books related to pursuing a career as a Food Safety Officer.

How to become a Food Safety Office in India?

A Food Safety Officer in India is hired through the State Public Service Commission (SPSC) of the concerned state. The candidate must appear in the state civil services examination.

What is the pay scale of a Food Safety Office?

The pay scale of a Food Safety Officer ranges from Rs 20,000 to 45000 per Annum.

What is the job responsibility of a Health Inspector?

A health inspector is a person who visits a restaurant, hotels, food manufacturing industries and bakeries to analyse hygiene of food and quality of raw material, kitchen area, utensils etc. They have the authority to fine the owner of the food manufacture or hotels/ restaurants in case of any ill activities. W

What are the job roles of a Food Safety Office?

Health Inspector, Food Scientists, Food Technologist, Food and Drug Administrator are some of the job roles that a Food Safety Office can choose.

What is the eligibility criteria to pursue a career as a Food Safety Office?

The candidate must hold a Bachelor’s like B.Sc/ B.Tech in food technology/ dairy technology/ biotechnology/ agriculture Science/ biochemistry or Master’s degree in a relevant discipline to pursue a career as a Food Safety Officer.

Who is a Food Safety Office?

A Food Safety Officer is a professional who analyses food samples collected as an inspection. They identify the presence of any suspicious element in the food product or any hazardous effect of food on the health of a person.

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