What Is a Food Safety Auditor and How to Become One
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What Does a Food Safety Auditor Do?
As a food safety auditor, your job is to inspect restaurants, grocery stores, and other businesses that serve food to ensure they meet all quality and sanitary regulations for handling and preparing food. In this role, you may test prepared food for problems, observe workplace behavior, check any required documents, or investigate consumer complaints. Food safety auditors frequently travel within a set geographic area, though your job rarely requires staying away from home overnight. Auditors often work for the government, but some work independently or for a single, larger company as part of its internal enforcement measures. Regardless of the employer, this job requires the ability to learn and help enforce safety regulations for many different types of food.
How to Become a Food Safety Auditor
The primary qualifications for becoming a food safety auditor are a bachelor's degree in a relevant field and some experience with the food industry. Some locations accept additional work experience in place of a degree, especially if you have experience with food processing or manufacturing. This job also requires a valid driver's license and a clean driving record, though you may not need to provide your own vehicle, as some governments provide cars for employee use during working hours. Fulfilling the responsibilities and duties of a food safety auditor requires sharp attention to detail, communication skills, writing skills, and teaching skills. You may be asked to speak at local seminars or food safety conferences, so public speaking skills are also helpful.
