17 Food Safety Inspector Interview Questions and Answers

Food safety inspectors play a vital role in ensuring the food we consume is safe. They inspect food production facilities and conduct audits to ensure compliance with food safety regulations. Food safety inspectors also collect samples of food for testing and investigate foodborne illness outbreaks.

If you’re interested in becoming a food safety inspector, you’ll need to pass an interview. During the interview, you’ll be asked a variety of food safety inspector interview questions about your experience, education, and skills. You’ll also be asked questions about your ability to handle difficult situations and to work independently.

To help you prepare for your interview, we’ve compiled a list of sample food safety inspector interview questions and answers.

Are you comfortable working with a team of people to complete your work?

Food safety inspectors often work in teams to ensure they can complete their tasks within the required time frame. Employers ask this question to make sure you’re comfortable working with others and that you have experience doing so. In your answer, explain how you’ve worked with a team before and what made it successful.

Example: “I am very comfortable working with a team of people. I actually worked as part of a food safety inspection team at my last job. We were responsible for inspecting restaurants and grocery stores throughout our county. The best part about working on a team was being able to share ideas and opinions with other inspectors. It helped us come up with new ways to improve our processes and procedures.”

What are some of the most important qualities a food safety inspector should have?

Employers ask this question to make sure you have the right skills and abilities for the job. They want someone who is detail-oriented, organized and able to work independently. When answering this question, think about what skills you have that would be beneficial in this role.

Example: “I believe a food safety inspector should be highly organized and detail-oriented. It’s important to keep track of all your findings so you can report them accurately. Inspectors also need to be able to work independently since they are often alone when conducting inspections. I am an independent person who enjoys working on my own.”

How would you handle a situation where you found an establishment was not following proper food safety procedures?

This question can help the interviewer determine how you apply your knowledge of food safety regulations to ensure establishments are following them. Use examples from previous experience where you helped an establishment understand proper food safety procedures and implement them into their daily operations.

Example: “In my last role, I found a restaurant that was storing its raw chicken in the same refrigerator as its ready-to-eat foods. The owner told me they had been doing this for years without any issues, but I explained to him that cross-contamination is one of the most common causes of foodborne illness outbreaks. He understood why it was important to separate his raw meats from other foods and agreed to move his raw meats to another refrigerator.”

What is your experience with food safety regulations?

This question can help the interviewer determine your level of experience with food safety regulations. It can also show them how you apply that knowledge to your work. To answer this question, you can list any specific regulations you’ve worked with in the past and explain what steps you took to learn about them.

Example: “In my previous position as a food safety inspector, I was responsible for enforcing federal food safety regulations. This included inspecting restaurants and grocery stores for proper labeling and storage procedures. In order to prepare myself for these inspections, I read through all relevant sections of the Food Safety Modernization Act. I also attended mandatory training sessions on the new regulations.”

Provide an example of a time you identified a food safety issue and how you resolved it.

An interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your problem-solving skills and how you apply them in the workplace. When answering, try to describe a situation where you used critical thinking skills to identify an issue and develop a plan of action to resolve it.

Example: “In my previous role as a food safety inspector, I noticed that one restaurant was using a different brand of chicken than what they had ordered. This raised some red flags for me because it’s important to use the same ingredients when preparing foods. I spoke with the manager at the restaurant to find out why they were using a different brand of chicken. They told me that their supplier had run out of their usual brand of chicken, so they purchased another brand from a local grocery store. I explained to them that they needed to order the correct brand of chicken again once it became available.”

If you found a case of contaminated food, how would you report it to your superiors?

This question can help interviewers understand how you would handle a specific situation at work. In your answer, try to explain the steps you would take and why you would take them.

Example: “If I found contaminated food, I would first document the location of the food, what it was and who prepared it. Then, I would report my findings to my superiors so they could inform the proper authorities. After that, I would make sure the contaminated food is disposed of properly and no one else consumes it.”

What would you do if you saw a coworker violating food safety procedures?

Employers ask this question to make sure you understand the importance of following food safety procedures and how to report violations. In your answer, explain that you would first try to educate your coworker on why they were violating a procedure. If they still did not comply, you would report them to your supervisor so they could take appropriate action.

Example: “I believe it is important for everyone in the food service industry to follow proper food safety procedures. I would first approach my coworker privately and calmly explain why what they are doing is unsafe. If they still do not change their behavior, I would report them to my supervisor so they can handle the situation appropriately.”

How well do you follow instructions?

Food safety inspectors must follow instructions from their supervisors. Employers ask this question to make sure you can do so effectively. In your answer, explain that you are a highly organized person who is able to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines. Show the interviewer that you have strong attention to detail by giving an example of how you followed instructions in the past.

Example: “I am very organized when it comes to following instructions. I always read through all necessary documents before starting my shift. If there’s anything I don’t understand, I will reach out to my supervisor for clarification. At my last job, I was tasked with inspecting a restaurant for cleanliness. When I arrived at the location, I noticed some areas that needed improvement. I notified my supervisor immediately, and they gave me further instructions on what to do next.”

Do you have experience using food safety software?

This question can help the interviewer determine your comfort level with using technology in a food safety inspection setting. If you have experience using software, describe how it helped you complete your job duties. If you don’t have experience using software, explain what other methods you use to record data and keep track of your inspections.

Example: “I’ve used several different types of software for my food safety inspections. I find that having multiple options is helpful because each system has its own strengths and weaknesses. For example, some systems are more user-friendly than others, while others may be better suited for recording large amounts of data. In my last position, we used an app on our phones to take pictures of violations and enter notes about them.”

When inspecting a restaurant, what are some of the things you look for?

This question is an opportunity to show the interviewer that you have a thorough understanding of food safety regulations and how they apply to restaurants. When answering this question, it can be helpful to list some specific things you look for when inspecting a restaurant and explain why these are important.

Example: “When I inspect a restaurant, I always make sure to check the temperature of the refrigeration units and ensure that all foods are stored at safe temperatures. Another thing I do is check the cleanliness of the kitchen and dining areas. If there are any visible signs of pests or rodent droppings, I will ask the manager to address those issues before continuing with my inspection.”

We want to ensure our food safety inspectors are healthy. What is the CDC’s guidelines for handwashing?

The CDC has specific guidelines for handwashing, and food safety inspectors must follow these rules. The interviewer wants to make sure you know the proper way to wash your hands before handling food.

Example: “The CDC recommends washing my hands with warm water and soap for 20 seconds. I should scrub all surfaces of my hands, including between my fingers and under my nails. After washing my hands, I should dry them thoroughly with a clean towel or paper towel.”

Describe your experience with writing reports.

Food safety inspectors often write reports about their findings. Employers ask this question to make sure you have experience writing professional documents. In your answer, explain that you can write clear and concise reports. Share a time when you wrote a report in the past. Explain how you organized your thoughts and presented them clearly.

Example: “In my last role as a food safety inspector, I was responsible for writing weekly reports on my findings. I would include details like the date and location of the restaurant, what violations I found and how severe they were. I also included information about the restaurant’s overall compliance with health codes. My reports were always well-organized and easy to read.”

What makes you stand out from other candidates for this position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your qualifications and how you can contribute to their team. When answering, it can be helpful to highlight a skill or experience that makes you unique from other candidates. You may also want to mention any certifications you have.

Example: “I am passionate about food safety and I know the importance of keeping our community safe. In my previous role as a food safety inspector, I was able to reduce the number of violations in restaurants by 50%. This is because I would always explain why certain infractions were happening and offer solutions for improvement. My passion for helping others led me to become an instructor at a local college where I teach students about food safety.”

Which of our company values resonate with you the most?

Employers ask this question to see if you are a good fit for their company culture. They want someone who can uphold the values of the organization and contribute to its success. Before your interview, read through the job description and identify which values they list as most important. Choose one that resonates with you and explain why.

Example: “I am passionate about food safety and committed to upholding high standards in my work. I also value teamwork and collaboration, so I would love to be part of an organization where everyone works together to achieve common goals. Your company seems like it has these qualities, and I think I could really thrive here.”

What do you think is the most important aspect of food safety?

This question is a great way for employers to learn more about your knowledge of food safety. They want someone who can be passionate about the job and help educate others on proper food handling practices. In your answer, try to explain why you think this aspect is so important. You could also share an example from your own experience that shows how it’s helped you in the past.

Example: “I believe the most important part of food safety is education. If people know what they’re doing wrong, then we can teach them how to do things right. I’ve seen many restaurants where employees are unsure of how to handle certain foods or don’t understand the importance of washing their hands before preparing meals. By explaining these things to them, I was able to get several businesses up to code.”

How often should restaurants be inspected?

This question can help interviewers understand your knowledge of food safety regulations and how you apply them to the industry. When answering, it can be helpful to mention a specific regulation that requires restaurants to be inspected at least once every year.

Example: “In my last position as a food safety inspector, I visited restaurants at least once per year. This is because under federal law, all establishments must be inspected annually. In addition to this requirement, I also checked in on restaurants more frequently if they had any violations or complaints filed against them. Checking up on businesses regularly helped me ensure that they were following proper food safety procedures.”

There is a new food safety issue in the news. How do you react to it?

Employers want to know that you are up-to-date on current food safety issues. They also want to see how you react to new information and whether you can apply it to your work as a food safety inspector.

Example: “I recently read about the dangers of eating raw cookie dough. I was surprised by this, but after doing some research, I found out that there is a risk of salmonella in uncooked flour. This made me realize that I should always wash my hands thoroughly before handling any ingredients or utensils used for baking.”