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In India alone, 120,000 deaths occur per year due to foodborne illnesses. This raised an alarming concern and a need for well-trained food inspectors in the country.

A food inspector, also known as a food safety officer (FSO), is responsible for maintaining the food safety standards and quality of food. They check packed foods, packaging, restaurants, hotels, and manufacturing and storage facilities to guarantee that the food is free of contamination at all stages. They ensure that the food we are having has all the necessary nutrients and isn’t harming us in any way. This makes the role of a food inspector very crucial. They are the backbone of the entire food safety structure. 

The various duties of safety officers are:

1. Ensuring the food safety standards are followed. 

2. Maintain the quality of food at manufacturing and storage units. 

3. Ensure correct food labelling, including all components and percentages.

4. Ensure quality control at restaurants, hotels, resorts, and other public eating places.

5. Testing of food samples for adulterations. 

6. Visiting dairy farms, poultry farms, fisheries, and honeybee farms to guarantee that the animals are disease-free.

How To Become a Food Inspector?

With the growing consumer awareness and government programmes, food and health have become a priority for the public. One can contribute to food safety and standards by becoming a food inspector. To become one, there are certain eligibility criteria:

1. Identify key skills: a food inspector must have or acquire certain soft skills, such as attention to detail, critical thinking, communication skills, decision-making, etc. 

2. Minimum requirements: The interested candidate must have completed 10+2 with at least 50% marks in the science stream (physics, biology, chemistry, or mathematics).

3. Candidates need a bachelor's degree in life sciences, food technology, dairy technology, biotechnology, biochemistry, agriculture, microbiology, chemistry, veterinary science, or public health from a recognised university. It would ensure that candidates are eligible to take various government tests. They can even pursue higher certifications.

4. Age limit: A candidate’s age must fall into the range of 21 to 40 years in the year of examination. Age relaxation is given to reserved category candidates such as SC/ST/OBC/PWD/ExSM.

5. Aware of rules and regulations: There are various rules and regulations set by FSSAI under the FSS Act. The candidate must be aware of them for examination and professional purposes. These are 

• FSS Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses, Regulations 2011.

• FSS Food Product Standards and Food Additives, Regulations 2011.

• FSS Prohibition and Restriction on Sales, Regulations 2011.

• FSS Packaging and Labelling, Regulations 2011.

• FSS Contaminants, Toxins and Residues, Regulations 2011.

• FSS Laboratory and Sampling Analysis, Regulations 2011.

• FSS Food or Health Supplements, Nutraceuticals, Food for Special Dietary Uses, Foods for Special Medical Purposes, Functional Foods and Novel Foods, Regulations 2016.

• FSS Food Recall Procedure, Regulations 2017.

• FSS Import, Regulations 2017.

6. Gain practical experience: Practical exposure will make your application stronger and equip you for field practice. Take internships with food processing units, public health departments, or registered FSSAI organisations to learn about food safety procedures.

Get certified as HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points), FSSC 22000, GMP/GHP (Good Manufacturing Practices and Good Hygiene Practices), or Food Safety Training and Certification (FoSTaC) of FSSAI to enhance your resume. Apply for various internships and opportunities.

 7. Important government exams: By clearing various government competitive exams, one can be part of government food agencies to control and check the quality of food nationwide.

• The All India Food Inspector Exam is conducted by the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) to recruit candidates into the central government, specifically under the Ministry of Health or the Food Safety department.

• FSSAI Recruitment Exam: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India conducts this exam for the role of FSO and various other posts like lab technician, analyst, etc. 

• State PSC Exams: Various states conduct their exams, such as Maharashtra PSC, Rajasthan PSC, UPSSSC, etc., to recruit food inspectors at the state level. 

• Other Exams: Food Corporation of India (FCI) or Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC) may conduct recruitment for related roles.

8.  Selection Procedure: The complete process typically includes a written exam, interview, document verification, or a physical test if required, as an FSO needs to travel to different places often. For further details, one can check the recruitment website. 

How to prepare for the food inspector exam?

Food inspector exams are conducted by various national and state entities to recruit skilled Food Safety Officers (FSOs), including the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and Public Service Commissions (PSCs). To excel in the examination, candidates can follow these preparation tips:

1. Understand the exam pattern: After ensuring that you meet the eligibility criteria, understand the exam pattern of the FSO. Mostly the exam consists of a written paper and an interview. The written exam comprises multiple choice questions (MCQs) that feature a negative marking scheme of ¼ marks. The duration of the exam varies between 2 to 3 hours, depending on the conducting body. Additionally, a personal interview is conducted by the UPSC to evaluate the candidate's knowledge and confidence.

2. Understanding Syllabus: candidates must be aware of the best practices involving food compositions, processing, packaging and preservation. He/she should possess knowledge of food safety management systems like HACCP, GHP, GMP, etc. Finally, an understanding of FSSAI rules and regulations is of utmost importance. Apart from the core subjective knowledge, the syllabus includes general awareness (current affairs, geography, public health, state facts, etc.), aptitude and reasoning (quantitative aptitude and logical reasoning), and English (grammar, vocabulary, and comprehension). 

           Here are a few standard textbooks that can help to start the journey:

• Food Science by Norman N. Potter

• Nutrition Science by B. Srilakshmi

• Food Microbiology by William C. Frazier

• Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 – FSSAI publication

3. Analyse past year papers: Solving PYQs and papers might help you better comprehend the marking scheme and exam format. It also helps to identify recurring subjects. Practicing past papers with a time limit will help you manage your time throughout the exam and gain confidence.

4. Give mock tests: Candidates can further practice mock tests to evaluate weak areas and strengthen them. Aim for at least 10–15 full-length tests before the exam. Candidates can take help from various online platforms like Testbook, Unacademy, or Gradeup for free mock tests.

5. Stay up to date: Stay aware of the global food safety practices to enhance your knowledge. Learning about the new food-related policies and laws can provide immense benefits in the interview as well as in the fieldwork. Refer to FSSAI’s official website for updates and changes in rules, exam patterns, and important dates.

6. Interview preparation: Practice speaking and listening skills. Clear verbal communication skills are critical for the role. Maintain composure and avoid informal gestures. Prepare technical questions and answers. Candidates can participate in group discussions and mock interviews to enhance their skills. 

7. Develop Key Skills: Skills like communication, decision-making, and critical thinking can help in taking quick, decisive steps during interviews and on fieldwork. Practice stress management techniques to handle exam and interview pressure. Maintain physical fitness, as FSOs are involved in a lot of fieldwork. 

8. Coaching: There are various online and offline coaching programs regarding the exam that are provided in the market. These institutes can provide a structured curriculum for exam preparation, along with mock tests and doubt-clearing sessions. Joining them can be beneficial, but not a necessity. It is based on the individual, whether they can adjust well to the schedule. 

9. Start early: Early beginnings can provide ample time for covering the subjective paper, giving a deeper understanding and experience. Time can be utilised to obtain certification through various professional courses. 

10. Language skills: Learning regional languages such as Punjabi, Marathi, and so on will aid you during the exam procedure and in your future career. Practice various keywords from time to time to enhance proficiency.

Career Insights

Food safety officer is emerging as a desirable career path since there is a greater emphasis on food safety, nutritional value, and the FSSAI's growing role. Starting salaries for government food inspectors range from ₹35,000 to ₹40,000 per month and can go up to ₹10 LPA with top responsibilities like food safety commissioner.

There is also a rising demand in private companies such as AMUL, Nestlé, etc. Growth is dependent on experience and company size. 

Conclusion

In March 2023, FSSAI tested 4.3 lakh food samples, finding that one in four did not meet food safety standards. Another finding states that 40% of foodborne diseases occur among children under 5 years old. These highlight the importance of inspectors in addressing food safety violations. FSOs pay a pivotal role in identifying adulterants and maintaining the quality of food, affecting the lives of people. 

One can be a food inspector through government agencies by clearing the competitive exams. These exams often require a thorough understanding of food safety regulations, quality control measures, and the ability to conduct detailed inspections. As food safety standards and technologies advance, aspiring inspectors must be prepared to receive continual training. They can also join private companies and contribute to society.