What does a food inspector do?

Updated January 8, 2025

6 min read

The Food Inspector focuses on securing all consumers' health and safety from a company's food products. They must enforce all food standards outlined by the Food and Drug Administration. Other responsibilities include inspection of slaughterhouses, food production facilities, and other food-related establishments if they follow safety and health regulations and protocols. The Food Inspector determines if the establishment is safe to sell food products and if they have permits to operate. Their job also requires them to ensure that all food sold is fit for consumption and safe according to federal laws.

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Food inspector responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real food inspector resumes:

Provide education to plant management and employees in regard to federal regulations, HACCP and SSOP.
Perform health and safety verification sampling and tests for detection of specific microbes, residues or contaminants.
Identify and document deviations from plant's written procedures outline in HACCP and SSOP plans to ensure compliance with federal regulations.
Perform CSI duties as needed.
Report information from inspection shifts to plant DVM.
Have knowledge of FSIS procedures and can adapt to current procedures
Audit annually by the FDA for performance quality assessments and standardization.
Monitor work station and dressing procedures in accordance with FSIS regulations and policy.
Examine, weigh, and measure commodities to certify qualities, grades, and weights.
Inspect and enforce federal food safety regulations in food production industry on a rotating patrol assignment.
Review HACCP plans and verify that plans' CCP records appear true, correct, and unaltered.
Assure product throughout productionprocess is carried out in accordance with plant HACCP, SSOP and GMP procedures.
Recognize, report and prepare documents in reference to unsanitary, unsafe and hazardous conditions for USDA personnel.
Verify proper handling of finish product to ensure sanitary conditions are maintained and product meet USDA finish product standards.
Provide training on proper insect identification techniques.

Food inspector skills and personality traits

We calculated that 31% of Food Inspectors are proficient in Food Handling, Federal Laws, and Food Preparation. They’re also known for soft skills such as Dexterity, Math skills, and Technical skills.

We break down the percentage of Food Inspectors that have these skills listed on their resume here:

Food Handling, 31%
Conducted subsistence quality assurance inspections in food handling establishments located on Post, evaluated and recommended corrective actions for unsanitary conditions.
Federal Laws, 15%
Perform Quality Control checks to ensure USDA standards are met and product is in compliance with Federal laws.
Food Preparation, 14%
Accounted for and secured all equipment and food supplies; prepared and kept records and reports on work and food preparation activities
Sanitation Procedures, 10%
Execute and monitor sanitation procedures.
Human Consumption, 6%
Inspected food products designated for human consumption, while also supervising food inspection and combined veterinary service activities.
Food Animals, 3%
Inspect the slaughter and processing of food animals in privately owned meat or poultry slaughter and processing plants.

Most food inspectors use their skills in "food handling," "federal laws," and "food preparation" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential food inspector responsibilities here:

Math skills. Another essential skill to perform food inspector duties is math skills. Food inspectors responsibilities require that "knowledge of basic math is important for measuring, calibrating, and calculating specifications in quality control testing." Food inspectors also use math skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "submitted blood samples and data statistics and reports to state and federal government. "

Technical skills. food inspectors are also known for technical skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to food inspector responsibilities, because "to ensure that products and parts meet quality standards, inspectors must understand the relevant blueprints, technical documents, and manuals." A food inspector resume example shows how technical skills is used in the workplace: "provided technical guidance to subordinate personnel. "

See the full list of food inspector skills

The three companies that hire the most food inspectors are:

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Compare different food inspectors

Food inspector vs. Agricultural commodities inspector

Consumer safety inspectors work in poultry, meat, and egg processing plants owned by one or more private individuals. Their job is to ensure that the plant operations follow the written HACCP system, processing, and sanitation plans. They also work with different people to discuss how to resolve problems, discuss their understanding of the HACCP, and be updated on other food safety and consumer protection requirements. Part of their duties is to participate in performing tests to detect microbes like salmonella in their meat and poultry products.

We looked at the average food inspector salary and compared it with the wages of an agricultural commodities inspector. Generally speaking, agricultural commodities inspectors are paid $2,212 higher than food inspectors per year.Even though food inspectors and agricultural commodities inspectors are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require human consumption, public health, and fda in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a food inspector are more likely to require skills like "food handling," "federal laws," "food preparation," and "pet." On the other hand, a job as an agricultural commodities inspector requires skills like "ams," "inspection procedures," "commodities," and "food science." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

On average, agricultural commodities inspectors reach similar levels of education than food inspectors. Agricultural commodities inspectors are 1.7% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.4% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Learn more about food inspectors vs consumer safety inspectors.

Food inspector vs. Consumer safety inspector

An agriculture inspector scrutinizes agricultural food products and the processing methods for safe consumption. Agriculture inspectors should have knowledge about the regulations set by the FDA for the proper implementation of the rules. Oftentimes, they are in charge of the issuance of the official grades for the standards. They also take action whenever a problem arises to come up with a remedy before the contaminated products are marketed. Also, it is their job to audit and assess different aspects of livestock production.

Consumer safety inspector positions earn higher pay than food inspector roles. They earn a $6,539 higher salary than food inspectors per year.A few skills overlap for food inspectors and consumer safety inspectors. Resumes from both professions show that the duties of each career rely on skills like "human consumption," "ccp," and "gmp. "

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, food inspector responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "food handling," "federal laws," "food preparation," and "pet." Meanwhile, a consumer safety inspector has duties that require skills in areas such as "ssop," "microbes," "food safety programs," and "plant operations." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

On average, consumer safety inspectors earn a higher salary than food inspectors. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, consumer safety inspectors earn the most pay in the government industry with an average salary of $45,625. Whereas food inspectors have higher pay in the government industry, with an average salary of $44,660.In general, consumer safety inspectors achieve higher levels of education than food inspectors. They're 5.8% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Learn more about food inspectors vs agriculture inspectors.

Food inspector vs. Agriculture inspector

On average scale, agriculture inspectors bring in higher salaries than food inspectors. In fact, they earn a $1,790 higher salary per year.Using the responsibilities included on food inspectors and agriculture inspectors resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "federal laws," "usda," and "gmp.rdquo;

Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from food inspector resumes include skills like "food handling," "food preparation," "pet," and "sanitation procedures," whereas an agriculture inspector is more likely to list skills in "disease control," "inspection reports," "agricultural products," and "insect. "

Agriculture inspectors earn the highest salary when working in the government industry, where they receive an average salary of $50,978. Comparatively, food inspectors have the highest earning potential in the government industry, with an average salary of $44,660.agriculture inspectors typically earn similar educational levels compared to food inspectors. Specifically, they're 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Food inspector vs. Health inspector food

Health inspector foods average a higher salary than the annual salary of food inspectors. The difference is about $1,065 per year.While both food inspectors and health inspector foods complete day-to-day tasks using similar skills like federal laws, food preparation, and human consumption, the two careers vary in some skills.

Even though a few skill sets overlap between food inspectors and health inspector foods, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a food inspector might have more use for skills like "food handling," "pet," "sanitation procedures," and "food animals." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of health inspector foods require skills like "customer service," "sales floor," "mathematical analysis," and "operational procedures. "

In general, health inspector foods hold similar degree levels compared to food inspectors. Health inspector foods are 0.5% less likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.4% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of food inspector

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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