Millions of Americans suffer from some type of food borne sickness each year as indicated by the U.S. Center of Disease Control. This is as a result of the lack of food hygiene. It is necessary for food to be prepared well even if it is processed, unprocessed or imported. A food safety specialist will ensure that food is prepared according to the food preparation and food safety standards set by the environmental health department.
Job Description
A food safety specialist could be labeled as an environmental health practitioner. Individuals who work these environmental health jobs receive training in the monitoring of various practices that involve food such as cultivating, harvesting, processing, storage, packaging, labeling, delivering and transporting. Food safety specialists are also responsible for inspecting the equipment and business operations of commercial food businesses to make sure that the safety and sanitation standards are met. Essentially, a food safety specialist assures the public that all types of food sold for consumption are safe. A food safety specialist conducts inspections and provides assistance with determining the appropriate sanitation practices and maintaining conditions that affect the safety of food. An analytical report will be provided to summarize all observations made and to recommend remedial strategies. The food safety specialist does audits utilizing the American Institute of Baking (AIB) standards to scrutinize how companies in the food and beverage industries are doing business.
Employment Opportunities
In the US, you can find a job within the Department of Food and Drug Administration where food safety is administered, monitored and inspected. This government agency has specific guidelines and rules that you have to follow as a food safety specialist. In the Department of Agriculture, there are also basic standards and laws that have to be upheld. These will be discovered upon securing employment as a food safety specialist in any of these agencies. Here’s how to become a food safety specialist.
Education
To start out in this career field, acquire a bachelor’s degree in environmental health, food science, microbiology or other health and science degree programs. In some states, you can also receive certification by completing a specific program at a college or school that offers food safety specialist certification. However, completing a master’s degree in environmental health and safety, agriculture or environmental science will get you a higher salary. You can also complete a master’s degree in public health and get a concentration on food safety or microbiology. The degree or certification program that you complete should be accredited and administered by the National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation Council (EHAC).
After or while completing your degree, you should think about gathering experience through an internship program or other activities and jobs that deal with food preparation and safety. Working in a restaurant or another food establishment, for example, during the education and training process, will expose you to food safety and preparation. Your experience in food safety-related programs will most likely lead to better job opportunities in the future.
Certification
Completing your certification provides you with a better chance of increasing your salary. When you obtain food safety certification from the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA), you will become registered as a food safety specialist. The successful completion of the administered exam is required, but to qualify, you must have a bachelor’s degree as well as working experience in the food safety industry. If you only hold an associate’s degree or high school diploma, you can still take the exam, but you must have about four years of additional experience in food safety.
Job Outlook
The job outlook for a food safety specialist is very good now and in the future. The annual salary earned ranges between $30,000 and $70,000. You can work both in the private sector and the government. Look for jobs in different agencies and establishments that deal with food safety regulations. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is a good place to begin. You can become a food inspector where you will inspect the processing of meats, the harvesting of crops or the production of diary. In the private sector, you might find employment in various food preparation establishments.
Be sure that you develop and grow the appropriate skills for this job, which comprises of proper communication, analytics, monitoring, inspection, investigation and reporting. You will need to sharpen your five senses. The job will move you from one location to the next, so be physically prepared for the challenge. You must take an unbiased approach to your job and offer the best results that will positively affect the public.