Are you interested in working for public health and food safety? If, yes, a career as a food inspector can be an ideal choice for you. A food inspector’s key role is to ensure that the food the public consume is safe and made in a hygienic environment. They work under the Food And Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to assure regulatory compliance and to prevent contaminated food illnesses.
This article primarily aims to talk about qualifications required to become a food inspector, including educational requirements, exams, skills and employment prospects. Let us get started.
Who Is A Food Inspector?
A Food inspector is a government official who is assigned to supervise food preparation, processing units, restaurants and storage facilities. Their main goal is to ensure that the food products adhere to the Food Safety Standards Act, 2006. These inspectors play an important role in maintaining public health and safety along with quality assurance of food items being sold to customers.
Food Inspector Qualification In India
To become a Food inspector in India, you need to possess certain qualifications and meet specific eligibility criteria. Read on to understand what are the important food inspector qualifications required in India.
1. Educational qualification
Candidates who aspire to achieve the position of a food inspector in India, must complete the following educational requirements. The minimum educational qualification needed for a food inspector role is:
A bachelor’s degree in any discipline listed below:
Oil Technology
Bachelor’s degree in medicine is also considered for the FSSAI food safety officer roles.
2. Age limit
The minimum age requirement for applying to the food inspector role is 18 years. However, the maximum age limit could vary for central government and state government food inspector posts.
An upper age limit of 30 years is applicable for general category candidates for central government roles while it can rage up to 35 or even 42 years depending on the state and their specific requirements. This can be observed in states like Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, where the maximum age limits are often higher for their state services.
How To Become A Food Inspector: Step-By-Step Guide
It is important for aspirants to learn and understand which academic path to take for building a career as a food inspector in India. Here, we discuss the course requirements, entrance exams and their selection process in detail.
Step 1: Complete the relevant degree
You can pursue required undergraduate degree programmes such as B.Sc in Food Technology, BTech in Biotechnology, B.Sc Agriculture and more.
Step 2: Prepare for competitive examinations
Candidates can appear for various competitive examinations conducted by stage and central agencies. This is a standard procedure for recruitment to the government roles of food inspectors and food safety officers.
Food inspector exam and recruitment process
The recruitment process for the position of a food inspector is conducted with three main steps.
1. FSSAI Recruitment exam
It is conducted by the Food Safety And Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) or posts like Central Food Safety Officer (CFSO) and Technical Officer (TO).
2. State PSCs (Public Service Commissions)
Various states conduct their own examinations for state food safety officer positions, including:
MPPS Food Safety Officer Exam (Madhya Pradesh)
TSPSC Food Safety Officer Exam (Telengana)
UPPSC Food Safety Officer Exam (Uttar Pradesh)
Skills Required To Become A Food Inspector
Other than educational qualifications, an aspiring food inspector also needs to have certain skills and abilities that will allow them to do their duties effectively.
Knowledge of food and safety laws and regulations
Attention to detail for detecting contamination and unhygienic environments
Analytical skills to effectively analyse food samples and derive insights.
Communication skills to interact with food business operators.
Problem solving skills to address and solve food safety related issues.
Career growth opportunities
Entry level roles
Entry- level roles are ideal for recent graduates who are ambitious about beginning their career in public health and food safety. These entry- level roles generally involve posts like:
Food Safety Officer (FSO)
These officers are responsible for inspecting food production and processing units to make sure they comply with Food Safety and Standard Act (2006). They conduct inspections and collect samples of food for analysis and also issue notices upon identifying violations.
Technical Officer
Technical Officers are assigned to provide technical and scientific guidance for food laws and regulations. They work under FSSAI or State Food Safety Departments and assist in the formation of standards and guidelines related to food safety.
Senior roles
Senior roles mainly include managerial positions at the district or state level, mainly with the responsibility for ensuring regulatory compliance and supervision of junior officers. Such roles may include:
Designated Officer (DO)
DO is an officer appointed by the Commissioner of Food safety for each district. Managerial roles like planning and managing law enforcement, handling complex cases and working for policy development and implementation are the primary responsibilities of these officers.
Commissioner of Food safety
Commissioner of Food safety is the head of food safety administration and is appointed by the state government to the state or union territory. They work towards the proper implementation of the Food Safety and Standard Act (2006) and its regulations within the state and union territory.
Sectors Hiring Government Food Inspectors
Food Safety and Standard Authority of India
State Food Safety Departments/Departments of Health /Food and Drug Administration (FDAs)
Municipal Corporations / Local Bodies
Export Inspection Council (EIC) and Export Inspection Agencies (EIAs)
A career as a food inspector is a financially sound and future proof decision, as this field provides an attractive salary range and several additional benefits and perks. With the right educational path, preparation for competitive exams and qualifying for the following recruitment process, you can also become a successful and qualified food inspector in India.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Most government salaries are based on the 7th Pay Commission. For entry level FSSAI food safety/technical inspector position the basic pay as defined by the 7th CPC is Rs. 44,900.
Some of the major food inspector exams include:
Recruitment exam for posts like Central Food Safety Officer and Technical Officer
State Public Service Commission (SPSC) conducted by various states. For example, MPPS Food Safety Officer Exam (Madhya Pradesh), TSPSC Food Safety Officer Exam (Telangana), UPPSC Food Safety Officer Exam (Uttar Pradesh) and more.
The first thing to ensure before applying for the food inspector exam is that you meet the eligibility criteria. Complete the relevant education, check if you fall within the age limit and follow other criteria mentioned in the notification.
To be eligible for the food inspector position, you need to complete a bachelor’s degree in relevant disciplines such as food technology, biotechnology, Microbiology, Oil Technology, Chemistry and more.
A food inspector position in India is classified as Group B or Non-Gazetted Officer. Central Government and State bodies like Food and Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) or State Health Departments generally come under Group B Non-Gazetted Post.