The food and safety industry offers many promising careers. Should you choose, or be looking at choosing a path in food safety, then this article will give you everything you need to learn to get moving in the right direction. To become a food safety specialist, you must preferably have obtained a bachelor’s degree. If the degree is in food science, so much the better, but any degree will show that you have the basic understanding and necessary skills to learn the processes and procedures that define the advanced food safety certificate or any other government issued certification.
A food safety specialist or inspector must be fully trained and knowledgeable about the industry and how it operates. They protect the general public from unscrupulous practices of businesses that are not concerned with adhering to the set guidelines around food, its handling, processing, storage and disposal. The primary task of food safety officers is to check the quality and safety of all publicly consumed foodstuffs and products. However, being a food safety officer does not mean that you will be out on the streets walking the beat every day. An officers time is usually split between being at the office for meetings and briefings, spending time in the lab analysing samples and visiting food processing plants and facilities on inspections.
There is a lot of study and patience in learning the industry regulations and demands that all food safety specialists be up-to-date on all government related standards of food health and safety before issuing an advanced food safety certificate. It is possible to study as you work and earn a degree or certificate while you earn an income and many food safety specialists choose to go the part-time route to gain much needed experience as they develop their knowledge.
A Bachelor’s degree is vital when looking to enter the industry, however, it is not really concerning in which field you have earned it. Obviously, food science would be an added advantage as the course material provides everything you need to know on food sanitation, production, handling and distribution. However, microbiology and biotechnology are also fields of study that will reap rewards on entering into the workspace after your studies are completed. Along with the formal education, you should also consider studying for professional certification with courses such as the advanced food safety certificate. These are independently issued by government regulated authorities and offer you added knowledge and experience that will advance your career.
Finding the right institution, or more importantly, the time to achieve extra certification may come as a struggle to many employees in the food safety sector that are looking to advance their careers. However, with today’s modern age of the internet, most courses for advanced food safety certificate can be found online with the click of a mouse.
Now you know what is expected of you as a food safety inspector, still sound like it’s for you? Then get studying and started on your way to being a food safety specialist today!
