Food safety specialist

Food safety specialists organise processes and implement procedures to avoid problems with food safety. They comply with regulations.

Includes people performing activities at the point of sale.

Food safety specialists typically do the following:

• Ensure compliance with local, state, national, and international food safety regulations, codes, and standards established by agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the World Health Organization (WHO). Stay updated on changes in food safety laws and regulations to maintain regulatory compliance.
• Develop, implement, and manage food safety programs, policies, and procedures tailored to the specific needs and activities of food establishments, including restaurants, food processing plants, retail stores, and catering services. Establish Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) plans, sanitation standard operating procedures (SSOPs), and food safety management systems (FSMS) to ensure the safe handling, preparation, and storage of food.
• Provide food safety training and education to food handlers, managers, employees, and stakeholders on topics such as proper food handling practices, personal hygiene, cross-contamination prevention, allergen control, and temperature control. Offer workshops, seminars, and online resources to promote food safety awareness and compliance with food safety regulations.
• Conduct routine inspections, audits, and assessments of food establishments to evaluate compliance with food safety standards, sanitation practices, and food handling procedures. Perform risk-based inspections of facilities, equipment, food preparation areas, and food handling practices to identify potential hazards and corrective actions.
• Collect samples of food products, ingredients, water, and surfaces for microbiological testing and analysis to detect foodborne pathogens, spoilage organisms, and contaminants. Use laboratory methods such as culture-based assays, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and immunoassays to assess microbiological quality and safety of food products.
• Investigate foodborne illness outbreaks, food poisoning incidents, and consumer complaints related to food safety concerns. Conduct trace-back and trace-forward investigations to identify the source of contamination, assess the extent of public health risk, and implement corrective actions to prevent future outbreaks.
• Develop allergen control programs and procedures to prevent cross-contact and allergen contamination in food processing facilities, restaurants, and retail establishments. Label allergenic ingredients, implement segregation measures, and train staff on allergen awareness to protect consumers with food allergies and sensitivities.
• Communicate food safety risks, advisories, recalls, and public health alerts to food industry stakeholders, regulatory agencies, and the general public. Provide guidance on safe food handling practices, food storage recommendations, and consumer education messages to promote safe food consumption and prevent foodborne illnesses.
• Ensure compliance with food labeling regulations, including ingredient labeling, nutrition labeling, allergen declaration, and country-of-origin labeling requirements. Review food labels, packaging materials, and marketing claims to verify accuracy, completeness, and compliance with labeling laws and regulations.
• Develop emergency preparedness plans and response protocols for food safety emergencies, such as food recalls, contamination incidents, natural disasters, and public health crises. Coordinate with regulatory agencies, emergency responders, and industry partners to mitigate risks, manage crises, and protect public health.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records, logs, and documentation related to food safety activities, including inspection reports, audit findings, laboratory test results, corrective actions, and training records. Ensure compliance with recordkeeping requirements and data management protocols to facilitate regulatory compliance and risk management.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of food safety programs, control measures, and risk mitigation strategies through performance metrics, trend analysis, and process improvements. Implement corrective actions, preventive measures, and quality assurance initiatives to address deficiencies, minimize risks, and enhance food safety outcomes.

The following job titles also refer to food safety specialist:

food production quality controller
trainee food safety specialist
food safety controller
senior food safety specialist
food scientist
food safety monitor
food safety advisor
food safety technician
food compliance manager (food safety)
assistant food safety specialist
HACCP compliance manager
food safety consultant
technical manager for food safety
food hygiene specialist
food quality controller

Food Safety Specialists work in various settings, including government agencies, public health departments, regulatory authorities, food inspection agencies, food processing facilities, restaurants, retail establishments, and consulting firms. They may spend time in both office environments and field settings, conducting inspections, audits, and investigations at food establishments and food production facilities. The work schedule may include regular business hours as well as evenings, weekends, or on-call duties to address food safety emergencies or regulatory compliance issues.

A bachelor’s degree in food science, food safety, microbiology, public health, or a related field is typically required for entry-level positions as a Food Safety Specialist. Some employers may prefer candidates with a master’s degree or professional certification in food safety, HACCP, or regulatory affairs. Practical experience gained through internships, co-op programs, or entry-level positions in food safety, quality assurance, or regulatory compliance is valuable. Food Safety Specialists may pursue certification as a Certified Food Safety Professional (CFSP) or other relevant credentials to demonstrate expertise in food safety practice and enhance career advancement opportunities. Continuous learning and staying updated on advancements in food safety regulations, technologies, and best practices contribute to ongoing professional development as a Food Safety Specialist.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Food safety specialist is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to food safety specialist.

food production engineer
sensory scientist
animal feed nutritionist
food technologist
food and beverage packaging technologist

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of food safety specialist.

• Food legislation: Legislation related to the food and feed industry including food manufacturing, hygiene, safety, raw materials, additives, GMOs, labelling, environmental and trade regulations.
• Food storage: The proper conditions and methods to store food to keep it from spoiling, taking into account humidity, light, temperature and other environmental factors.
• Food preservation: Deterioration factors, controlling factors (temperature, additives, humidity, pH, water activity, etc., including packaging) and food processing methods to preserve food products.

These skills are necessary for the role of food safety specialist.

• Maintain personal hygiene standards: Preserve impeccable personal hygiene standards and have a tidy appearance.
• Prepare reports on sanitation: Conduct hygiene inspections in supermarkets and other stores; prepare and make up sanitation reports and analyses.
• Plan inspections for prevention of sanitation violations: Health inspection of retail shops and supermarkets; identification and prevention of sanitation violations and health risks.
• Keep task records: Organise and classify records of prepared reports and correspondence related to the performed work and progress records of tasks.
• Monitor packaging operations: Observe and supervise the packaging operations undertaken by the workers for compliance to production requirements. Check products for proper packaging such as labelling and date coding in order to ensure appropriate and safe transportation.
• Develop food safety programmes: Develop a food safety programme including traceability, ISO quality systems and HACCP risk management procedures.
• Control food safety regulations: Implement strict control of food safety standards, ensuring that production, transportation, storage, and livestock breeding comply with laws and regulations.
• Take action on food safety violations: Determine when action related to food safety violations may be required; gather and present appropriate evidence; execute protective measures.
• Evaluate retail food inspection findings: List, process and evaluate data gathered during retail food inspections undertaken in supermarkets or shops.
• Investigate complaints related to consumer protection: Investigate accidents, incidents and complaints; determine if health, safety and consumer protection procedures have been followed.
• Train employees: Lead and guide employees through a process of teaching them the necessary skills for the prospective job. Organise activities aimed at introducing the work and systems or improving the performance of individuals and groups in organizational settings.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of food safety specialist. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• General principles of food law: The national and international legal rules and requirements applied in the food industry.
• Cold chain: The temperature at which certain products are to be kept for consumption.
• Food homogenisation: The procedures, machines, and recipes used to mix different foodstuffs and solutions by transforming them through high-pressure and acceleration processes into a uniform fluid or product.
• Food policy: Have a solid understanding of policies, strategies, institutions and regulations concerning food.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of food safety specialist. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Analyse samples of food and beverages: Examine if food or beverages are safe for human consumption. Verify the right levels of key ingredients and the correctness of the label declarations and the levels of nutrients present. Ensure samples of food and beverages comply to specific standards or procedures.
• Ensure correct goods labelling: Ensure that goods are labeled with all necessary labeling information (e.g. legal, technological, hazardous and others) regarding the product. Ensure that labels respects the legal requirements and adhere to regulations.
• Develop food policy: Participate in the decision-making around production and processing techniques, marketing, availability, utilization and consumption of food, in the interest of meeting or furthering social objectives to influence the operation of the food and agriculture system. Food policymakers engage in activities such as regulation of food-related industries, establishing eligibility standards for food assistance programs for the poor, ensuring safety of the food supply, food labeling, and even the qualifications of a product to be considered organic.
• Assess food samples: Assess samples from a range of sources to draw analyses. For example, microorganisms detection, chemical analysis, and parasitological analysis.
• Audit HACCP: Audit the food safety procedures applied by a certain establishment based on Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP).
• Monitor sugar uniformity: Monitor that the sugar and centrifuged products are uniform and comply with quality standards.
• Use instruments for food measurement: Use various tools and instruments to evaluate and investigate food products such as thermometers, x-ray tools, microscopes, etc.

2263 – Environmental and occupational health and hygiene professionals

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References

1. Food safety specialist – ESCO
2. Food Safety Specialist | Career Profile | AgCareers.com
3. Featured image: By The U.S. Food and Drug Administration – Safe Shellfish (4496), Public Domain