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Becoming a Food Safety Auditor

Find out more about working in the field of food safety. See what it takes to become a food safety auditor, including details on available training courses and certification.

Food safety auditors are responsible for ensuring that food chain organisations and agricultural centres are following acceptable practices and standards to deliver healthy and safe food products. The role requires attention to detail while carrying out full audits using procedures and regulations learned in training to conclude the overall standard of an outlet.

Who is A Food Safety Auditor?

• A food safety auditor may work with a wide range of food organisations to ensure the safety of their processes. They might assess food systems of growers, food processors, distribution centers, packaging centers, and food retail outlets for safety.
• This role requires using a set standard of rules, which are recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), to examine the extent to which food safety practices are being implemented by an organization.
• A food safety auditor may have to use graphs, reports or charts to compile and present their work findings.

What kind of Training required For This Role?

Upon graduation or post-graduation in required science stream, you can take a third-party certification, which covers the globally used HACCP safety guidance. Largely known as Lead Auditor Courses for 5 Days or conversion course for 3 days. These programs are recognised by the IRCA or GFSI or ANSI (American National Standards Institute) or NABET or equivalent organisations worldwide. There are a range of courses in these set standards and regulations, which can then lead to a role as a food safety auditor. On-the-job training in this role may cover observation audits and witness audits in areas such as food production techniques along with food hygiene and sanitation procedures to become Independent Third-Party Auditor.

What Personal Skills Should require for This Role?

Working in this role requires several personal skills.

• Auditor should be an active listener at all times throughout an audit, ensuring that you are able to listen and consider reasons and ideas for decisions which are made.
• It is also important to have critical thinking skills and attention to detail while in the working environment.
• Being able to understand how and why decisions have been made, along with the ability to think of ways to rectify unsatisfactory situations, is an important part of the role.
• Food safety auditors may also be required to show good speaking skills, as they will assess a wide range of food-based organizations and have to convey their findings.

Resources requirements to become a Food Safety Auditor

Education 

The auditors should have the knowledge corresponding to a post-secondary education that includes general microbiology and general chemistry.

The auditors should have the knowledge corresponding to a post-secondary education that includes courses in the food chain industry category in which they conduct FSMS audits.

Food safety training

The auditors have successfully completed training in

a) HACCP principles, hazard assessment and hazard analysis, and
b) food safety management principles including prerequisites (PRPs)

The training course(s) should be recognized by the industry (and its stakeholders) as being appropriate and relevant. The approval or certification of the training courses by an independent body with the relevant expertise can provide some assurance that the course meets specified criteria.

Audit training

The auditors have successfully completed training in

a) audit techniques based on ISO 19011, and
b) relevant FSMS standards (e.g. ISO 22000, BRC Food, FSSC22000).

Normally called Lead Auditor or Lead Assessor Training approved by IRCA or GFSI or NABET or equivalent body.

Work experience

The auditor has a minimum of five years of full-time work experience in the food-chain-related industry, including at least two years of work in quality assurance or food safety functions within food production or manufacturing, retailing, inspection or enforcement, or the equivalent.

The number of years of total work experience may be reduced by one year if the auditor has completed appropriate post-secondary education.

Audit experience

Within the last three years the auditor has performed at least twelve FSMS audit days in at least four organizations under the leadership of a qualified auditor.

For extension to a new category, it must be proved that the auditor has the required competences through relevant education required as above, food-safety-related training in the new category, and either

• Six months of work experience in the new category, or
• Four FSMS audits under the supervision of a qualified auditor in the new category

After fulfilling above requirements for becoming Food Safety Auditor, there may be specific requirements of Certification body, Scheme or Standard to undergo Observation Audit, Witness Audits and Calibration Audits to qualify as Independent Third-Party Auditor for specific food sector.

Please note that Food Safety Auditor is answerable and can be held responsible for his auditing

Be a Good and Unbiased Food Safety Auditor…All The Best

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