How to Become Food Safety Officer: Eligibility, Job Role, Salary & More

Want to make a career in the field of food then Food Safety Officers is one of the best jobs for you. Read the article to know the complete details about the food safety officers in India like qualifications, different exams, job roles, salary, and more. 

India is among the largest consumers of packaged food and the consumers eating packaged food are always concerned with the nutrients, health, and every minute detail of them. Ever thought about who ensures the quality of these packaged foods? The Food Safety Officer. 

These food Officers are solely responsible for the quality check of these packaged food items. The first question that arises is how to become a Food Safety Officer in India. We have discussed a step-by-step guide for becoming a food safety inspector, educational qualifications, job role, salary, opportunities as food Officers, and more. Read the complete article for the complete details about the food safety Officers.

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Who is a Food Safety Officer?

A Food Safety Officer is a part of an official government or private body that inspects the quality of the food in the food processing environment to ensure the quality of the food to ensure compliance with regulations and laws governing safety and health.

Food Safety Officer Exam in India

There are different exams conducted by private and government organisations in India. However, there are two most important exams for the Food Safety Officers, FCI (Food Corporation of India) and FSSAI ( Food Safety and Standard Authorities of India). Candidates who wish to become food Officers can appear for these two exams. 

How to Become a Food Safety Officer?

To become a Food Safety Officer you need to qualify for the eligibility for food inspector exams in India. The step-by-step process to become a Food Safety Officer is given below:

Food Safety Officer Age Limit 

Candidates who want to appear for the Food Safety Officer exam must be between 18 to 40 years of age. The relaxation for the different categories is given according to the norms of the Government of India.

Food Safety Officer Qualification

The candidates who want to appear for the Food Safety Office exam must possess a bachelor's degree The complete details of the educational qualification for the food Officers are given below:

• BE or BTech in Chemistry 
• Biochemistry 
• Food Technology 
• Food Science 
• Microbiology 
• Edible Oil Technology 
• Industrial Microbiology
• Master's Degree in Chemistry/Biotechnology/Toxicology and more

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Food Safety Inspector Exam Pattern

The food safety inspector exam is conducted in 2 stages- a written exam and a personal interview. Check the exam pattern for the food safety inspectors in India in the table below:

Food Safety Inspector Exam Pattern 2024
Written Exam	Marks: 200  Duration: 2 to 3 hours
Interview	-

Food Safety Inspector Exam 2024 Syllabus

The candidates can check the syllabus for the Food Safety Inspectors below:

• Food Science and Technology: This includes topics like food composition, food processing, food preservation, and food packaging.
• Food Safety Management Systems: This covers topics like HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points), GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices), and GHP (Good Hygiene Practices).
• Food Laws and Regulations: This includes the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and various regulations related to food additives, contaminants, labeling, and packaging.
• Food Microbiology: This covers topics like foodborne pathogens, food spoilage, and food safety testing methods.
• Public Health and Hygiene: This includes topics like personal hygiene, food handler training, and food safety education

Pursue Certification Course 

The candidates who want to appear for the Food Safety Officer exam are advised to pursue a certification course to add weightage to their qualifications. The certification courses will help the candidates in the interviews and merit list formation. Some of the certification courses are mentioned below:

• Food Laws and Standard 
• Fundamentals of Food Process Engineering 
• Food Microbiology and Food Safety 
• Global Food Security 

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Apply for the Food Safety Officer Exam

The candidates possessing the eligibility for the exam must apply for the food inspector exam in India. The recruitment is done by FCI, FSSAI, and many more private organizations. Apply for the exam to become a food inspector. After qualifying for the exam the candidates will undergo a medical exam and interview. After the final document verification round the candidates will start their careers as food safety Officers. 

Skills For Food Safety Officers

The candidates who want to become food Officers in India must possess the following skills:

• Critical Thinking 
• Communication Skill
• Decision-Making Skill 
• Attention to Safety Skill 
• Attention to Details 

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What is the Job Role of a Food Inspector?

The food safety Officers are responsible for the quality check of the foods ranging from restaurants to food manufacturing plants. The food Officers collect the food samples from the food processing environment and send them to the lab for the purpose of research and to ensure the quality of the food as per the norms of the India Government. 

If the quality of the food sample does not qualify in the quality check inspection then the food Officers can cancel the license of the vendors or the food manufacturing plant according to the Food Safety and Standard Act 2006. The detailed job roles of the food safety Officers are given below:

Food Inspection 

The food Officers have to make inspections in the food processing environment either restaurants, food vendors, factories, and more. During the inspections, the food safety officer is solely responsible for the food inspections. The Officers check the quality of the food item on the basis of ingredients, nutrients, regulators, and several other food safety standards. 

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Ensuring Safety 

The food inspector's core responsibility is to ensure food safety and security. He or she also ensures that the sanitation systems are kept and maintained according to the guidelines of the authority

Salary Of Food Safety Officer

The salary of food safety Officers varies from organization to organization. However, the candidates can check the average salary of the food safety Officers in India in the table below:

Post	Salary
Junior Food Safety Officer	INR 25000
Senior Food Safety Officer	INR 48500